Yet another "cold and significant" storm is heading through California and is set to dump even more snow on Yosemite National Park.
It is the latest in a series of storms that have pummeled California since the start of the year. Yosemite National Park has seen the worst of the winter weather so far this year, as higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada have been hit with heavy snowfall.
"It may look like spring, but winter isn't over yet! We are expecting another winter storm starting tonight," Yosemite National Park said in a statement on April 4. "Several inches of snow are forecast in Yosemite Valley through Friday, with a foot or more on the roads higher up. This is a cold and significant storm, so tire chains will likely be required on all roads within (and perhaps leading to) Yosemite for the next several days."
Although California has seen spring-like temperatures earlier this week, this storm is set to cause a sharp drop, throwing the region into winter conditions once again.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento described the storm as "anomalously cold" as the "unsettled weather" is set to bring "showers, isolated thunderstorms, breezy winds and mountain and upper foothill snow through the end of the week."
Although there will be some showers, the storm is expected to bring little disruption as precipitation will be minimal.
"Even though weather this weekend is forecast to be dry, hikers should expect most trails to be snowy and/or icy—traction devices may be helpful," Yosemite continued in the statement.
"For longer hikes, be prepared to navigate by GPS, with ability to use a paper map and analog compass in case of GPS failure; snow will obscure trails in most places."
At the beginning of March the national park closed its doors due to a rare blizzardwarning being issued in the area.
Following this storm Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers in the park measured 47 inches of snow fall.
Snow in the Sierra Nevada is important for the state's water supply. The more snow in the mountains, the more water that will melt and fill reservoirs in the spring.
Snowpack levels are looking to be at a very healthy level this year, meaning good things for the state's drought status. Prior to 2023, California had suffered from incredibly dry conditions, but the winters of 2023 and 2024 both brought plenty of snow and rain, meaning the state appears to be safe from drought for now.
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more
