Yosemite, CA – The first major Sierra snowstorm of the season is taking aim at Central California early next week, with a Winter Storm Watch now in effect from Monday morning through Wednesday afternoon. Heavy snow is expected above 6,500 feet, with totals ranging from 12 to 24 inches across the high Sierra, including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, snow will begin Monday morning and intensify through Tuesday, affecting areas such as Shaver Lake, Grant Grove, Lodgepole, and Tuolumne Meadows. Winds will gust near 35 mph, and visibility may drop to near zero in higher passes. Conditions will make mountain travel “very difficult to impossible” through at least Tuesday night.
Roadways including Generals Highway, Tioga Road, and sections of Highway 168 near Huntington Lake are expected to become slick and snow-covered. Caltrans and the National Park Service urge visitors to delay travel if possible and prepare vehicles with chains, extra fuel, blankets, and emergency supplies.
Forecasters note that the system’s exact track remains uncertain, but colder air may lower snow levels further by Tuesday morning. That could bring accumulating snow closer to 6,000 feet, affecting gateway communities such as Wawona and Hume Lake.
Residents and travelers should secure outdoor gear, charge devices, and prepare for possible power interruptions where heavy, wet snow accumulates on trees and lines.
