Yosemite National Park occupies 1,190 sq miles of some of the most beautiful landscape in the world, but the the one mile wide by seven mile long valley floor makes up the most popular part of the park. This small section of real estate is where the vast majority of people spend most of their time. During the busy summer months the valley looks more like a crowded metropolitan city park than a dedicated wilderness area.
But why the crowds congregate to this small little plot of land is by no means an accident. They are there because Yosemite Valley provides some of the best scenery to be found anywhere in the world. John Muir called it the "Crown Jewel of the Sierra Nevada"
Weather in Yosemite can range from 100 degrees in the valley during the summer to below zero in the upper elevations of the park during the winter. Yosemite Valley that rests at an elevation of about 4,000 feet has fairly mild temperatures throughout the year, but as you go higher, the temperature (in general) decreases 1 degree Fahrenheit for every 300 feet of elevation gain. Precipitation also increases 2 to 4 inches for each 300 feet of elevation gain reaching a maximum at about 5000 to 6000 feet. You will hit these elevations along the Mist Trail between Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. Ninety five percent of the precipitation (both in rain and snow form) falls between October and May, with more than half (typically) falling in January, February, and March.
But why the crowds congregate to this small little plot of land is by no means an accident. They are there because Yosemite Valley provides some of the best scenery to be found anywhere in the world. John Muir called it the "Crown Jewel of the Sierra Nevada"
Weather in Yosemite can range from 100 degrees in the valley during the summer to below zero in the upper elevations of the park during the winter. Yosemite Valley that rests at an elevation of about 4,000 feet has fairly mild temperatures throughout the year, but as you go higher, the temperature (in general) decreases 1 degree Fahrenheit for every 300 feet of elevation gain. Precipitation also increases 2 to 4 inches for each 300 feet of elevation gain reaching a maximum at about 5000 to 6000 feet. You will hit these elevations along the Mist Trail between Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. Ninety five percent of the precipitation (both in rain and snow form) falls between October and May, with more than half (typically) falling in January, February, and March.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR YOSEMITE VALLEY AT THE 3,998 FT LEVEL
| February | 24 | Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 27. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. |
| February | 25 | Thursday Sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. |
| February | 25 | Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 31. East wind around 5 mph. |
| February | 26 | Friday Sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. |
| February | 26 | Friday Night Clear, with a low around 29. North northeast wind around 5 mph. |
| February | 27 | Saturday Sunny, with a high near 47. North wind around 5 mph. |
| February | 27 | Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| February | 28 | Sunday Sunny, with a high near 50. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. |
| February | 28 | Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 32. East wind around 5 mph. |
| March | 1 | Monday Sunny, with a high near 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. |
| March | 1 | Monday Night A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 6300 feet lowering to 4100 feet after midnight . Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. |
| March | 2 | Tuesday A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level rising to 5500 feet. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. |
| March | 2 | Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. East wind around 5 mph. |
| March | 3 | Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. |
To the left is frozen Ellery Lake (9,489 feet) The Lake is located along the Tioga Road just below the Tioga Pass (9,943 feet) This photo was taken on June 6th, 2010 (opening day for the Tioga Pass Road that year).
When the Tioga Pass Road opens varies from year to year (depending on weather and snow conditions). Tioga Pass is the Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park. It is the highest highway pass in California and in the Sierra Nevada.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR TUOLUMNE MEADOWS AT 8,650 FEET
Check out the big temperature drop when comparing the higher elevation of Tuolumne Meadows to the Valley Floor's forecast as noted above.
| February | 24 | Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -10. Blustery, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. |
| February | 25 | Thursday Sunny, with a high near 37. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the morning. |
| February | 25 | Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 13. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| February | 26 | Friday Sunny, with a high near 35. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. |
| February | 26 | Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 10. West northwest wind around 10 mph. |
| February | 27 | Saturday Sunny, with a high near 29. North wind 10 to 15 mph. |
| February | 27 | Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 7. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. |
| February | 28 | Sunday Sunny, with a high near 32. North wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. |
| February | 28 | Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 14. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| March | 1 | Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| March | 1 | Monday Night A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. South southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| March | 2 | Tuesday A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. South wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. |
| March | 2 | Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 13. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. |
| March | 3 | Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. |
Above Weather Report Powered by the National Weather Service
Half Dome Cable Ladder to the Left
Psalm 103:11-13
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
Timberline Trails recommends REI for all your hiking, backpacking, climbing and mountaineering needs. They carry all the major brands and stand behind everything they sell with one of the best guarantees you could ask for in outdoor gear.
Follow us on Instagram