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
| May | 10 | Monday Night Clear, with a low around 49. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 11 | Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 77. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 11 | Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 51. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. |
| May | 12 | Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. |
| May | 12 | Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 52. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. |
| May | 13 | Thursday Sunny, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. |
| May | 13 | Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the evening. |
| May | 14 | Friday Sunny, with a high near 80. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. |
| May | 14 | Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 50. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 15 | Saturday Sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 15 | Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. |
| May | 16 | Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. |
| May | 16 | Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 49. West wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. |
| May | 17 | Monday Sunny, with a high near 76. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west 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.
| May | 10 | Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 27. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable. |
| May | 11 | Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 54. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. |
| May | 11 | Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight. |
| May | 12 | Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 57. South southwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 12 | Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West southwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 13 | Thursday Sunny, with a high near 58. West wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. |
| May | 13 | Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 32. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. |
| May | 14 | Friday Sunny, with a high near 58. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. |
| May | 14 | Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. |
| May | 15 | Saturday A slight chance of rain showers between 11am and 2pm, then a slight chance of snow showers after 2pm. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. |
| May | 15 | Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind around 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. |
| May | 16 | Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. |
| May | 16 | Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. |
| May | 17 | Monday Sunny, with a high near 54. 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