Lifestyle Trend: Winter Storm Warning Targets Yosemite’s High Country as Forecast Calls for 6–8 Feet of Snow and 50 mph Gusts You Should Know

Travelers heading toward Yosemite’s high country are facing a significant winter weather threat after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Storm Warning for “Yosemite NP outside of the valley,” effective through 4 p.m. PST Friday.

The warning, published at 3:50 a.m. PST Sunday, forecasts conditions that could shut down backcountry travel, complicate access on mountain roads, and increase the risk of downed trees and power disruptions in exposed areas.

Forecasters expect a high-impact storm cycle rather than a brief burst. In the NWS warning, meteorologists emphasized both the magnitude and the wind component: “Heavy snow possible.

Total snow accumulations of 6 to 8 feet. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.” The combination of deep snowfall and gusty winds can create whiteout conditions, rapidly drifting snow, and treacherous travel on steep grades and narrower park roadways.

What areas are affected and why this storm stands out

The warning covers Yosemite National Park outside the valley, including communities and destinations such as Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows, where elevation and exposure typically amplify storm impacts.

While Yosemite Valley can see wintry weather, the most consequential hazards in this alert are expected at higher elevations, where snow can accumulate quickly and visibility can deteriorate with blowing snow.

The NWS flagged a key shift that could bring impacts to a broader band of elevations as the week progresses: snow levels are expected around 8,000–9,000 feet until Monday, then 7,000–8,000 feet through Tuesday, lowering to about 6,000 feet by Christmas Day. That trend increases the likelihood that locations which begin with rain-and-snow mixes could transition to heavier snowfall and slicker road conditions, particularly overnight and during stronger bursts of precipitation.

Road access, seasonal closures, and where travel disruptions may concentrate

Even before storms peak, access to Yosemite’s high country can be constrained by seasonal closures. The National Park Service (NPS) notes that Tioga Road closes due to snow most winters, preventing vehicle travel to Tuolumne Meadows and closing eastern access through the park when that corridor is shut.

Outside the park, California’s transportation agency reports that State Route 120 is closed at the Yosemite National Park boundary toward Tioga Pass “for the winter,” a status that typically reflects sustained high-elevation snow and maintenance limitations rather than a short-term closure. For travelers, that means the scenic east–west crossing over Tioga Pass should not be treated as a viable route during winter operations, and GPS directions can be misleading if drivers are unfamiliar with seasonal Sierra closures

Other approaches can remain open but still turn hazardous quickly. Chain controls may be enacted with limited notice, and restrictions can differ between corridors depending on elevation and storm intensity. Caltrans advises motorists to check conditions before driving and underscores that chain control areas can change rapidly as the storm evolves.

What visitors should do now: chains, preparedness, and reliable updates

For visitors determined to travel to Yosemite during the warning period, vehicle preparedness is not optional. The NPS cautions that “Carry tire chains in your car and be prepared to use them,” noting that chain requirements can be imposed even on vehicles with four-wheel drive if conditions warrant. The park also directs travelers to its recorded road conditions line for the latest operational updates.

The park’s chain guidance adds important nuance for trip planning: high-elevation routes such as Highway 41 (Wawona Road), Highway 120 from the west (Big Oak Flat Road), and the Badger Pass Road are more likely to require chains than lower approaches into Yosemite Valley. In practice, that means travelers may encounter dry pavement at lower elevations and then abrupt transitions to icy, snow-covered lanes higher up—conditions that can lead to spinouts and stoppages when vehicles are not properly equipped.

Officials also recommend building a margin of safety into itineraries. The NWS warning explicitly states that travel could be “very difficult to impossible,” and advises that anyone who must travel should keep extra food, water, and a flashlight in the vehicle. Caltrans similarly instructs drivers to use its information resources, including phone hotlines and live mapping tools, to monitor chain controls and closures in real time.

For travelers, the most practical takeaway is straightforward: avoid high-elevation travel if you can, and if you cannot, treat the trip like a winter operations scenario—carry chains, plan for delays, and rely on official road condition sources rather than assumptions based on lower-elevation weather. In storms of this scale, conditions can shift from manageable to impassable in a matter of hours, especially on exposed ridges and forested corridors where wind-driven snow and falling limbs create compounding hazards.