Re: Flood Warning

FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
828 AM PDT TUE MAY 2 2017

...The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a flood warning
for the following rivers in California...

Merced River at Pohono Bridge

.Much above normal temperatures is causing rapid snow melt which will
produce river rises along the Merced River.

Forecasts are based on present and forecasted meteorological and
hydrologic conditions at time of issuance.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Unlisted forecast points are expected to remain below monitor stage.
All those affected by river conditions should remain alert for rapid
changes and for possible forecast revisions.

For more hydrologic information and stage definitions refer to the
following web site:http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/hydro.php

The next statement will be issued around 300 pm PDT today.

&&

CAC043-031728-
/O.NEW.KHNX.FL.W.0008.170503T0600Z-000000T0000Z/
/POHC1.1.ER.170503T0600Z.170503T1200Z.000000T0000Z.NO/
828 AM PDT TUE MAY 2 2017

The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a

* Flood Warning for the Merced River at Pohono Bridge.
* From this evening until further notice...or until the warning is
cancelled.
* At 8:00 AM Tuesday the stage was 9.4 feet.
* Minor Flooding is forecast.
* Forecast to recede to near 8.5 FT late this afternoon then expected
to rise above flood stage of 10.0 FT tonight then forecast to rise
to near 10.5 FT early Wednesday then forecast to fluctuate near
10.0 FT thru Wednesday morning.
* Flood Stage 10.0 ft
* IMPACT...Near 10.5 feet, Water tops the swinging bridge downstream
from Chapel Meadow. Overflow from Woski Pond floods access road.
* IMPACT...Near 10.0 feet, Western portion of North Pines Campground
located at the east end of Yosemite Valley between the confluence
of the Merced River and Tenaya Creek begins to flood. Water rises
to the base of the swinging bridge downstream from Chapel Meadow.
* IMPACT...Near 9.5 feet, Portion of Lower Pines Campground becomes
flooded. Limited site-specific evacuations begin at Housekeeping
Camp located along the south-facing bank of the Merced River.
(Upstream from Sentinel Bridge and downstream from Stoneman Bridge)
* IMPACT...Near 9.0 feet, Chapel Meadow (south side of river) and
Cooks Meadow (north side of river) begins to experience overflow.
* IMPACT...Near 6.5 feet, River is closed to rafters and flotation.


&&

LAT...LON 3776 11975 3782 11956 3769 11952 3761 11968


$$

DS

An interesting thing to note from the gauge at Happy Isles the river is running at it's highest measured flow for this date.

Max (1982): 2270
Most Recent Instantaneous Value May 4: 3120

At Pohono Bridge:

Max (1982): 4450
Most Recent Instantaneous Value May 4: 7290



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2017 11:35AM by yose42.

I was there over the weekend and the waterfalls were booming. Flows are now twice what it was then! So they must be amazing! And there were so many of the ephemeral Falls it was like the whole Valley was awake and alive. A great time to visit. And sounds like some great weeks ahead. As long as the flooding stays "reasonable" if that makes sense.

Today's LA times article with pictures of water. http://www.latimes.com/visuals/framework/la-me-yosemite-valley-flooding-pictures-20170505-htmlstory.html

Those LA Times photos were from Thursday May 4. Water was much higher on May 5...no one crossed the boardwalks that were in those photos and the bike trail was closed. (We joyfully rode through the flooding a couple of times on Thursday.)

On Saturday most of the meadows had some flooding which was wonderful for photography. By Sunday morning with the cooler temps
quite a bit of the water had receded.

Which campgrounds/campsites are the most likely to be affected by flooding in the valley?