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Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Monday, February 11th, 2019
Today: Sunny. Not as cold. Highs 35 to 41 at 5000 feet…27 to 35 at 8000 feet.
Tonight: Clear, windy. Lows 22 to 28 at 5000 feet…11 to 19 at 8000 feet. Gusts up to 40 mph after midnight. South winds 25 to 35 mph over higher elevations. Over higher elevations, gusts up to 45 mph in the evening increasing to 65 mph after midnight.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. Near the crest, slight chance of snow in the morning, then chance of snow in the afternoon. Over higher elevations, south winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts to around 80 mph. A 50 percent chance of snow in the afternoon, south winds around 25 mph in the afternoon. Very windy. Highs 40 to 46 at 5000 feet…29 to 37 at 8000 feet. Gusts up to 45 mph.
Additional Point Forecast Weather Links:
Yosemite Valley | Wawona | Tuolumne Meadows | Glacier Point | Big Oak Flat | Hetch Hetchy | El Portal | Mariposa | Badger Pass
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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY
Scenic Vista Management At Bridalveil Fall
Scenic vista management will begin around Bridalveil Fall as part of the Bridalveil Fall Rehabilitation project. Conifers will be removed along Bridalveil straight to restore a historic vista of Bridalveil Fall and to remove conifers crowding out black oaks. Views will also be restored along the trails leading to the waterfall. Please watch for workers. This project is supported by Yosemite Conservancy. (G. Dickman)
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Yosemite Conservancy Work Crew Leader Position
Would you like to spend a summer in Yosemite working on field projects to improve the park? Yosemite Conservancy is hiring a Work Crew Leader to help coordinate and lead volunteer work week crews throughout Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Conservancy is dedicated to preserving Yosemite and enriching the visitor experience. Volunteer work weeks take place in the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows and other areas throughout the park. Crews work on National Park Service projects to improve and maintain trails and help restore meadows and assist in revegetation efforts. The ideal candidate has experience working on a trail crew or vegetation restoration crew. Prior experience working in Yosemite is preferred. The position is a 3-6 month commitment between May and October depending on applicant’s availability. The schedule is 40 hours per week, with weekend work with a pay rate of $15-$18 per hour based on applicant’s experience. This position is not housed, but there is opportunity to stay with the work crews in campgrounds for 15 weeks of the summer. For a full job description, visit https://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/employment or email mmarschall@yosemiteconservancy.org for more information. (M. Marschall)
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Status of Whitebark and Foxtail Pine in Sierra Nevada National Parks
Jonny Nesmith, Ecologist with the NPS Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Program, is lead author on a paper recently published in Forests journal as part of a special issue: Ecology and Restoration of Whitebark Pine. The paper documents the status of whitebark and foxtail pine in Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, based on monitoring data collected from 2012-2017. While these iconic high elevation pines in the southern Sierra Nevada are healthy compared to declining populations elsewhere in their range, increases in a non-native pathogen and mountain pine beetle, coupled with climate change may cause future declines, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring.
To learn more, visit http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/1/35/htm to read the web version of this paper or download a pdf version at http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/1/35/pdf. For more information on this long-term monitoring project and to see a video about it, visit https://www.nps.gov/im/sien/index.htm. (L. Mutch)
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Watch For Debris On Roads In Ferguson Fire Footprint
Drive carefully and slowly this week as a storm is expected to pass through the area starting Tuesday and continuing through the weekend. From Wednesday to Thursday, several inches of rain are forecasted. Rainfall could be heavy at times. Rain can bring down loose soils, rocks, trees/tree branches, and other debris in the Ferguson Fire. Pay extra attention between Cascade Falls Picnic Area and Sweetwater Creek on Highway 140/El Portal Road as well as between Grouse Creek and Chinquapin on Wawona Road. During periods of heavy rain, consider avoiding driving until the rain stops as more intense rain may bring down more debris. Preemptive road closures may occur if predicted rainfall rates increase. (G. Dickman)
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Winter Slip Prevention
As you race through the door seconds before the shift begins, your foot slips in the puddle of slush melting inside the entrance. Flat on your back, you wonder how this happened. A small patch of ice on the stairs, a puddle on the floor, or snow on the sidewalk can put you down.
Use extra caution to keep on your feet. Don’t hurry when conditions are likely to be slippery. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
– Wear slip-resistant footwear, appropriate for the weather. Leather- soled shoes for men and high-heeled shoes for women are especially hazardous in winter.
– Practice good housekeeping habits. Clean up small spills immediately. Mark bigger ones with a warning sign while you advise the maintenance department of the problem.
– Keep skid-resistant door mats near entrances to dry your footwear. Check the bottom of your feet every time you enter a building, and clean off the accumulated ice and snow.
– Anticipate hazards as you are walking. When you come to a corner, slow down. If you think a surface might be slippery, take short sure steps instead of longer strides.
– Make sure you can see over the top of parcels you are carrying while you walk. Try to keep one hand free to use handrails on stairways.
– When getting in and out of vehicles, always keep at least one hand on the handle or grab bar so you can catch yourself if you start to slip.
– Try to avoid climbing ladders in cold weather. The rungs could be covered with clear ice. If you must climb a ladder, examine it carefully and proceed with caution.
– Keep pathways at work and home clear of snow and ice. If possible, turn on extra lights at night to illuminate the area.
– Pay particular attention when you are walking after dark. Remember that drivers will have a difficult time seeing you, so be sure to wear light colored clothing and watch out for vehicles.
– Sometimes, even though you have tried to be careful, you will fall. Don’t move until you are certain you haven’t broken any bones.
Please see Yosemite’s Winter Safety Sheet for more information as well as an example of traction for your boots and shoes while walking through snow and ice. http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/Intp/Shared%20Documents/Visitor%20Information/Winter,%20Visiting%20in.pdf (M. Grissom)
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Yosemite National Park Impacted By Recent Winter Storms – Yosemite News Release February 8, 2019
Multiple park facilities damaged by significant snowfall earlier this week
Multiple park facilities, housing units, and the park’s ski area have been significantly impacted by the significant snowfall the park received earlier this week. Yosemite Valley received approximately 18 to 24 inches of snow due to storms Monday through Wednesday. Yosemite’s high country saw several feet of new snow. The large snowfall amount caused several trees to topple, power outages, roads to temporarily close, damage to park campgrounds, and the temporary closure of the park’s ski area. No injuries occurred during the storm, and park personnel worked long hours to clear roads, ensure employee and visitor safety, and keep utility and other systems operating during the significant winter storms.
Approximately 50 guest cabins at Half Dome Village and 50-70 concessioner housing units were damaged or destroyed. About 150 concession employees are impacted and arrangements are being made to provide them temporary housing. All visitor services at Half Dome Village are closed while damage assessments continue and repairs begin. Upper Pines Campground is closed, as trees fell on restrooms in the campground and it is not safe for visitors. It is expected to reopen in the next several days. Yosemite Ski and Snowboard area is closed as well. Please check the park and concessioner websites for updates on openings and operating hours.
The National Park Service and the park concessioner are currently working together on damage assessments, alternative housing for employees, and repairing damage to park facilities. There is no financial estimate of damage or expected times that facilities will reopen. Visitor and employee safety remains the highest priority for the National Park Service and the park concessioner.
Temporary road closures and delays may be possible over the next several days along Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West), Wawona Road (Highway 41), and El Portal Road (Highway 140) inside Yosemite National Park. An incoming winter storm system could impact roadways inside the park due to heavy precipitation and snow at higher elevations.
Yosemite National Park is open. Visitors planning trips to the park over the next several days are advised to plan for winter driving conditions. Tire chains may be required at any time depending on road conditions. All motorists driving in the park during the winter season are strongly encouraged to have tire chains in their vehicle. Temporary road closures may go into effect at any time due to road and weather conditions.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose. (J. Richards)
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS
4 Mile Trail Closure
Due to a significant rock fall and downed power lines, the 4 Mile Trail is closed until further notice. (J. Hoeflich)