YOSEMITE (KMJ) — The rising temperatures enveloping the Central Valley this week, are bringing a new danger to Yosemite National Park.
Waterfalls are full and currents are flowing fiercely, as snow starts to melt.
“All records indicate that this is the…near largest snow-pack on record,” reveals the park’s Scott Gediman.
“So that of course combined with the warm temperatures is causing a lot of the snow to melt and some tremendous water falls.”
Talking heavy water flows at @YosemiteNPS this morning on @KMJNOW. This was the scene at Yosemite Falls Sunday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/LfeNcpm2lV
— Dom McAndrew (@DomMcAndrew) May 23, 2017
The National Weather Service warns of cold, swift, and dangerous flows throughout the park.
“The beauty of the high water, and the water falls, and the river, is something that’s attracting a lot of visitors and the warm weather,” adds Gediman.
“When people are out hiking around or out in the park and it’s close to 100 degrees, of course the river looks very inviting.
“However the river is closed right now, and we say the Merced River is closed that means there’s no commercial rafting available…and we’re asking people to stay away from the river.”
The warning comes as the search continues for a man last seen inside Yosemite National Park on May 3rd. Alexander Sevier traveled to Yosemite National Park from Virginia, and failed to catch his plane back (click here to read more).
“There’s just been no luck and so we’ll continue to search and maybe for example when the water levels go down we may find him,” says Gediman.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
