Competition time. Welcome to the 39th Tioga pass Prognosticator. Spring opening 2025

[Mark Sedenquist]

Glad you are figuring how to add the larger photos! Makes it so much easier for member and casual visitors to see your photos.

Thanks for making the effort!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Thanks for sharing the photo's tseeb, you can't beat mountain snow and blue sky's!

Yosemite NP has not updated on the Tioga pass clearing effort since May 5th which is a little frustrating. Perhaps the next update will have an opening date announcement, maybe on Monday for a Tuesday opening! (Wishful thinking!)

Dave

[tseeb]

May 20 update https://www.facebook.com/Caltrans9 - comments on Caltrans efforts are not complimentary on their efforts.

"Work to remove rocks/debris, repair guardrail, and fix pavement continues on State Route 120 West to the Eastern Yosemite National Park gate. Despite the pavement being extremely damaged in some areas, Caltrans District 9 crews are working as fast as possible to open the roadway."

[Southwest Dave]

Tioga Pass is scheduled to open on Monday 26th May at 8am. I am on the road at the moment so I will have to check later to see if anyone has predicted this. Then we will wait for confirmation.

Dave

[tseeb]

I also saw May 26 opening and it's posted at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm
Seems very arbitrary. It not likely that they are working on the road Saturday and Sunday of a three-day weekend, so road is probably ready to go. Is it because of staffing availability or that staff wants to open it on a holiday so they get overtime?

I think I'm the only one who did not pick a date before Memorial Day weekend. But I picked the Wednesday after, not the holiday thinking they may need one more day after holiday to may sure 120 is OK for opening. So I could 'win' my second consecutive 'darn close'.

I'm also the only one in contest who may be using Tioga in the next week. My original plan was to drive to and ski Palisades on their closing day, Memorial Day, then stay at South Lake Tahoe family cabin Monday night. That breaks up drive to Mammoth. Then I planned to drive to Mammoth early on Tuesday, ski and stay there Tuesday, ski Mammoth Wednesday, then drive home over Sonora Pass after skiing to be home for dental appt. on Thursday. But friend I stay with at Mammoth reminded me that Palisades does not appear to make much effort to provide their best product for customers at end of the season and Mammoth gondola closes for annual maintenance after Memorial Day, so I'd be better off skiing Pailsades Sunday and Mammoth Monday and Tuesday.

But a fire has the usual route from Reno/Tahoe/Minden past Mono Lake closed and the alternative adds 2+ hours which makes it difficult to drive it before skiing. Note that Mammoth is open 730 AM - 2 PM at this time of year and best skiing may be before noon so a 4+ hr drive from Minden to avoid 395 closure is not very practical. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...n-20343034.php

[Mark Sedenquist]

I think I'm the only one who did not pick a date before Memorial Day weekend. But I picked the Wednesday after, not the holiday thinking they may need one more day after holiday to may sure 120 is OK for opening. So I could 'win' my second consecutive 'darn close'.

Sounds reasonable to me. Have to wait on the official word from Sheriff Dave.

But a fire has the usual route from Reno/Tahoe/Minden past Mono Lake closed and the alternative adds 2+ hours which makes it difficult to drive it before skiing.

Yes, this is the INN Fire and it is causing lots of problems.

Currently it is 770 acres, at 15% contained.

This photo from May 22nd gives an idea as to why the road is closed!

I am looking at the closest fire cam right now. I am not seeing any active plume, so maybe they will get the road opened soon.

Have a fun trip skiing!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

As of 9pm last night US-395 has reopened.

[Southwest Dave]

Tioga Pass has opened this morning as scheduled! We do not have a new Tppc (Tioga pass prognosticator Champion) but tseeb does indeed become the DcTpp once again(Darn close Tioga pass prognosticator) by predicting Wednesday 28th May. Well done tseeb, close but no cigar!

Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

A complete contrast in today's 'Hazardous weather warning' for Friday through the weekend in Yosemite Valley. (Temperatures likely to peak around 80F at high elevations along Tioga pass)

653 AM PDT Tue May 27 2025

...EXTREME HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures up to 105
possible.

* WHERE...San Joaquin Valley, Kern River Valley, and lower Sierra
Nevada foothills.

* WHEN...From Friday morning through Sunday morning.

* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
extreme heat and high humidity events.

Quite a contrast with only light patches of snow visible on the highest peaks this morning!
This mornings view Courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy.


Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

105 degrees in the Kern River Valley and lower Sierra foothills sounds a tad extreme to me.

It is supposed to get to 106 degrees in Las Vegas on Friday, but that's basically normal for here this time of year.

Remaining snow melt is likely to be accelerated.

The gauge at Pohono Bridge is already at 6-feet.

Projection is for 7 feet by June 1st and Flood Stage is 10 feet at this location

And the web cam at Happy Isles is already looking very high