Tioga Pass Competition time once more ! The 35th Tppc !

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yep, the waterfalls are ripping

Yosemite Falls from two minutes ago: (actually three weeks ago)



Watch it live here.

Just thought I would move the active link up to this point in the thread.

This what it looks like today!


April 22nd at 8:40 am PDT

And I think the flows are starting to kick into high gear.


April 22nd at 8:40 am at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Look at the water sheeting off the high rocks into the meadow! I can't believe that all of the snow in this meadow has already melted. Holy Moly.


Half Dome Camera, April 24th at 5:00 pm PDT.

[Southwest Dave]

Most of Yosemite valley will close because of the likelihood of flooding.

From Yosemite nps.

Most of Yosemite Valley will close starting Friday, April 28, at 10 pm, due to a forecast of flooding. This closure will be in place until Wednesday, May 3, but could last longer. Reservations for lodging and campgrounds in eastern Yosemite Valley will automatically be canceled and refunded. Wilderness permits can be rescheduled to alternate trailheads as space allows.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Most of Yosemite valley will close because of the likelihood of flooding.

From Yosemite nps.


Dave.

Not much sign yet -- but the daily cycles are going higher...

April 26th at 5:30 pm at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP

[Southwest Dave]

The water level didn't rise as much as expected so Yosemite is open today with limited services until 8pm and is expected to reopen fully tomorrow from 7am. Rivers are running fast and high so stay away from the edges.

The plow crews have been working hard up on Glacier point road and are getting ready to move equipment to the Tioga pass to begin work. The avalanche team are up there in snowcats at present, mitigating the Avalanche zones prior to work commencing.

Glacier point road crews. April 23rd.


Glacier point road will not open until July due to construction work.

Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yeah, there was speculation that bridge would see 9-ft or higher on Sunday -- but that didn't happen. There is still plenty of water going downstream.

This was from Noon today:

May 1st at Noon at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Truly awesome video showing the waterfalls in Yosemite taken from a helicopter at 11,000 feet. Check out the snow!!!
(Courtesy from Mark Finan Weather)

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yeah, there was speculation that bridge would see 9-ft or higher on Sunday -- but that didn't happen. There is still plenty of water going downstream.

This was from Noon today:

May 1st at Noon at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP

Mark

I haven't updated the graph for a bit so here is today:


May 9th at 12:30 pm PDT at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP

[Southwest Dave]

Not as much flow as I was expecting but May 1 snow surveys came in at 231% of average for the Merced River basin and 253% of average for the Tuolumne River basin. There is still a lot of snow to melt and closures due to flooding is still a real possibility.

Up on Tioga pass the plow crews have managed to make their way through 8-11 feet of snow from Crane flat to 3 miles west of White wolf (Approx 11 miles) with 3 plows and 3 blowers.

The plow is taking off the top half of the snow and then the blowers remove the lower section. In the photo on the right you can see a tree exposed by the blower which delays operations while they clear it. I expect there will be plenty of boulders among the snow as well which can also cause damage to machinery.



Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

I haven't updated the graph for a bit so here is today:


May 9th at 12:30 pm PDT at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP

Today looks like the melt is getting underway again!


May 13th at 2:54 pm PDT at the Happy Isles Bridge on Merced River in Yosemite NP