Yosemite Area Braces for Dangerous Winter Storm

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A powerful winter storm is set to hit the Yosemite region starting Friday, with forecasters warning of life-threatening conditions due to heavy snow, high winds, and dangerously low visibility. Travel across the Sierra Nevada is expected to become extremely hazardous, with the potential for impassable roads, downed power lines, and scattered power outages.

Why it matters

The Yosemite area is a major tourist destination, especially in the winter months, so this storm poses a serious threat to both residents and visitors. Extreme weather events like this can have significant economic impacts on local communities that rely on tourism, as well as pose risks to public safety.

The details

According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, a Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening for elevations above 7,000 feet, stretching from Yosemite National Park south to the Lake Isabella region. Forecasters warn visibility could drop below a quarter mile by Friday night, especially along exposed ridgelines and passes. Communities including Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, and Lodgepole are likely to see rapidly deteriorating conditions, with snow-covered bridges and steep grades along mountain routes becoming impassable at times. Strong winds may also snap tree limbs, increasing the risk of downed power lines and scattered outages.

• The storm's peak impacts are expected between late Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
• Hazardous conditions are expected to linger into Sunday evening.

What’s next

Additional alerts or warnings may be issued as confidence in snowfall totals increases.