Flood Threat To Force Closures At Yosemite National Park

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Parts of Y​osemite National Park will be closed over the weekend and into next week due to a threat of flooding from melting snow, and park officials say the areas that remain open will likely have limited access at best.

In addition to closures, v​isitors are advised to expect traffic delays, parking congestion detours.

It's possible emergency response could be delayed," a tweet from the park said. "As a result, please ... avoid unnecessary risk. Rivers in Yosemite will be flowing very high and will be extremely dangerous. Do not enter or approach them."

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T​he park announced Tuesday that most of Yosemite Valley will close at 10 p.m. Friday and remain so through at least May 3. The announcement also warned of the potential for further closures later in May and June.

"The good news is we're not expecting any additional snow or rain at least through the weekend," weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said Tuesday afternoon. "However, a warm spell is moving in that will speed up the snowmelt."

D​aytime highs in the valley will soar into the 50s each day through the weekend, Erdman said.

A​ series of atmospheric rivers brought extreme rain and heavy snowfall to parts of California this winter, including the Sierra Nevada Mountains that are home to Yosemite. The park was closed for more than three weeks in February and March due to bad weather, including rain, snow and rockslides.

Up to 15 feet of snow fell in some parts of Yosemite, and snowpack statewide reached record levels.

Friday's park closures focus on Y​osemite Valley east of El Capitan crossover, including Yosemite Village. There will be no services available in western Yosemite Valley and parking there and throughout the park will be extremely limited, according to the closure announcement.

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Reservations for lodging and campgrounds in eastern Yosemite Valley will automatically be canceled and refunded.

V​isitors should check the park's website for the latest closures and updates.

M​ore than 3.6 million people visited Yosemite last year, with the bulk of them coming in the high tourist months between May and October.

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