Yosemite National Park
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Near the crest, haze in the morning. Areas of smoke. Highs 75 to 85 at 5000 feet…67 to 75 at 8000 feet.
Tonight: Clear. Near the crest, haze in the evening. Areas of smoke. Lows 49 to 59 at 5000 feet…40 to 49 at 8000 feet.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Haze and areas of smoke. Highs 73 to 83 at 5000 feet…65 to 75 at 8000 feet.
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
Trail Crew Blasting Monday & Tuesday
Trail Crew has two days of blasting planned for next week.
On Monday, September 28, there will be blasting on the Tenaya/Sunrise Trail. Multiple shots are planned.
On Tuesday, September 29, there will be blasting on the Yosemite Falls Trail, just below Columbia Point.
On both days there will be intermittent closures while blasting operations are performed. For more information contact Greg Torres at Greg_Torres@nps.gov or 742-8811. (G. Torres)
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Yosemite National Park to Reopen on Friday, September 25, 2020 – Yosemite News Release September 23, 2020
Visitor services to incrementally reopen over the weekend
Yosemite National Park will reopen to all park visitors on Friday, September 25, 2020 at 9:00 am. Some visitor services will be available and other visitor services will open incrementally over the weekend.
The park has been closed since September 17 due to smoke impacts and hazardous air quality throughout the park.
Campsites in Yosemite Valley will be available for incoming campers beginning on Friday, September 25, 2020. To book a campsite, please visit www.recreation.gov.
Yosemite National Park continues to require day use reservations to enter the park. For more information and to secure a day use reservation, please visit www.recreation.gov.
Yosemite National Park officials continue to monitor air quality conditions throughout the park. The park continues to confer with local and federal public health experts on air quality, smoke impacts, and resulting impacts on public health. Yosemite National Park, or portions of the park, may close intermittently due to changes in air quality and smoke impacts. For information on current air quality and smoke impacts, please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=37.672508866650354&lng=-119.80573.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200, and press 1. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose and on the Yosemite National Park Facebook page. (J. Richards)
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RECENT NEWS
Medical Clinic Reduced Service Friday
Due to a planned absence of providers, Yosemite Medical Clinic will not have provider appointments available after 2PM on Friday, September 25. However, nursing triage and advice will be available until close of business. Normal availability of provider appointments will resume on Monday, September 28. (C. Griffin)
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PG&E Planned Power Outages October 1 & 3
On Thursday, October 1, multiple buildings in Big Oak Flat and Hodgdon Meadows will have planned commercial power outages for Wildfire Safety Work. Outages are scheduled for 0800-1600.
On Saturday, October 3, the Mariposa Administrative Office will have planned commercial power outages to replace electrical poles. That outage is scheduled for 0900-1600.
For more information, please contact Heather Gonzales, PG&E Planned Outage Coordinator, at 726-5588. (H. Bennett)
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS
Mist Trail Closure
The Lower Mist Trail- from the John Muir Trail (JMT) junction (just uphill from the Vernal Fall Footbridge) to the top of Vernal Fall – will be closed Mondays through Fridays from September 8 to November 21 between the hours of 7am and 4pm. The trail will remain open on weekends.
The trail is expected to be open overnight, however there may be certain days when trail crew is not able to make it safe to open overnight. In that case, the gates will remain closed and signs will be posted at the two closure gates that the trail is closed.
Hikers and backpackers headed to Half Dome, Cloud’s Rest, and points beyond from the trailhead at Happy Isles may hike uphill on the Mist Trail as long as they reach the Mist Trail/JMT junction by 7 am, Mon–Fri. Otherwise, they must hike up the JMT (approx. 1 mile longer).
Mon–Fri, hikers and backpackers traveling downhill/returning to the trailhead are encouraged to use the JMT to descend at all times since it will not be possible to change the sign at the trail junction at the Nevada Fall restroom anytime the Mist Trail needs to remain closed overnight.
There is a $280 fine for entering a closed construction zone. (J. Marschall)
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Big Oak Flat Road Work
When smoke conditions improve, Mather Roads will resume working on Big Oak Flat Road 7AM – 3:30PM, Monday – Thursday, starting at the park boundary and working toward the east. Use caution and look out for employees and equipment on the road. Expect traffic delays. (B. Brantley)
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Valley Forestry
Valley Forestry will be removing hazard trees along Glacier Point road between Summit Meadow and Glacier Point Monday – Thursday until further notice. Anticipate traffic delays. (B. See)
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Bridalveil Fall
The Bridalveil Fall parking lot and trails are closed to visitation to allow for ongoing rehabilitation work. NPS crews are currently constructing a new accessible trail and making other trail and site repairs. Contractor work consisting of utility upgrades and parking lot and bus platform improvements will begin later this summer and will continue through May 2021. (P. Johnson)
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PG&E Construction At Cascades Substation
Continuing through October, PG&E and their contractor are constructing a spill prevention wall around the electrical transformers at Cascades Substation (about 3.25 miles from Arch Rock). In the event of a transformer failure, the wall will prevent oil from spilling into the Merced River. Expect traffic control measures and periodic traffic delays at the substation to be in effect as the contractor is mobilizing and staging materials. (M. Outhier)