YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. – A powerful early-season winter storm is set to bury the central Sierra Nevada under more than a foot of snow beginning late Monday, bringing dangerous travel conditions through midweek. The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Winter Storm Warning for elevations above 6,000 feet, including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks.
According to the NWS Hanford office, snow will begin late Monday morning and intensify Monday night into Tuesday. Totals of 12 to 24 inches are expected in higher elevations such as Shaver Lake, Grant Grove, and Tuolumne Meadows. Wind gusts and blowing snow may reduce visibility to less than a quarter mile at times. The warning remains in effect from 11 a.m. Monday until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Travel across mountain passes could become “very difficult to impossible,” forecasters said. Caltrans urged drivers to check road conditions before heading into the Sierra and to delay travel if possible. Chains will likely be required on Highway 168 and other mountain routes leading to Huntington Lake and Kaiser Pass.
Officials recommend keeping emergency supplies — flashlight, food, water, and blankets — in all vehicles. If travel cannot be avoided, motorists should slow down, leave extra space between vehicles, and be prepared for sudden whiteouts. Park visitors should expect possible closures and plan for subfreezing temperatures overnight.
The system will gradually taper Wednesday evening, but cold air will linger, keeping icy spots likely on shaded roads into Thursday morning.
