Fresno, CA – A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect across the high elevations of the central Sierra Nevada today, impacting Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon, and surrounding recreation areas. The advisory, issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hanford, continues through 10 p.m. Sunday, with accumulating snow expected to create challenging travel conditions for visitors and residents.
According to the NWS, snowfall totals of up to 11 inches are expected above 7,000 feet, affecting locations such as Tuolumne Meadows, Grant Grove, Huntington Lake, Cedar Grove, Lake Thomas Edison, Florence Lake, and Devils Postpile. Lower elevations may see lighter accumulations, but high mountain passes and remote wilderness roads could become snow-covered and slick by midday.
Travel may be “very difficult,” forecasters warn, especially in areas where snowfall rates increase during the afternoon and early evening. The combination of fresh snow and colder temperatures will make traction challenging on high-elevation routes, including narrow park roads that may not be cleared frequently.
Visitors heading to Yosemite, Sequoia, or Kings Canyon are urged to check road conditions before entering the parks and to carry chains, warm clothing, and emergency supplies. Many access roads become icy quickly during early-season storms, and some trailheads or campgrounds may be unreachable by late day.
The advisory is expected to expire by 10 p.m., when snowfall gradually tapers off. However, lingering slick spots are likely overnight as temperatures continue to fall across the Sierra crest.
For the latest statewide travel information, residents can dial 511.
