Yosemite closes parts of park as rising temperatures threaten region

This weekend will see the closure of most of Yosemite Valley, the popular tourist destination of the renowned national park, as rising temperatures threaten the area with an increase in snowmelt that might cause the Merced River to overflow its banks.

Forecasters have cautioned that widespread floods might result from runoff from California’s historic snowpack, which is high along the peaks of the Sierra Nevada range.

“Downslope there will be problems,” said the National Weather Service meteorologist David Spector, adding that the area around the Pohono Bridge just east of the park’s central entrance would reach flood stage by Friday. “Only parts of the valley are expected to be impacted for now,” he said. “But it may become worse by Sunday or Monday.”

The California Nevada River Forecast Center has predicted that by Sunday afternoon, the Merced would have risen to 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) at the Pohono Bridge. The Yosemite Valley’s main highways will be submerged if it climbs even one foot higher.