With the significant amount of snow remaining in the high country and the arrival of hot temperatures, the National Weather Service (NWS) California-Nevada River Forecast Center is predicting the Merced River at Pohono Bridge to approach or exceed flood stage beginning Saturday. The NWS plans to issue a flood watch on Friday morning, followed by a flood warning on Saturday morning. River levels are expected to remain high for 5-8 days. Impacts to visitor facilities are expected to be minimal, however visitors should be extra cautious around creeks, rivers, and slippery rocks and riverbanks. Valley District Ranger Eric Gabriel is the Incident Commander and is coordinating the park's response with an interdisciplinary team and park partners. The NWS produces a daily river forecast, which can be viewed by the public at
http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=POHC1. Visitors in the Happy Isles area can view real-time weather and river data at the newly reconstructed Happy Isles Gaging Stationg, near the Nature Center.
