NOAA has issued a flood warning for the Yosemite Valley. The river is currently just below flood stage at 10′. If you’re planning on heading up to the park this weekend, you may not make it.
NOAA: “Flood Warning
CAC043-201500-
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY – HANFORD CA
615 AM PDT FRI MAY 20 2005…A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE MERCED RIVER AT POHONO
BRIDGE THROUGH 10 PM THIS EVENING…CONTINUED WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES HAVE RESULTED IN MELTING OF
THE SNOW PACK IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. RUNOFF FROM THE SNOW
MELT HAS RESULTED IN PERIODIC RISES OF RIVERS…CREEKS AND STREAMS.
THE MERCED RIVER CRESTED AT POHONO BRIDGE AT 9.92 FEET THIS
MORNING…AND CONTINUES JUST BELOW ITS FLOOD STAGE OF 10.0 FEET.
ALTHOUGH THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO RECEDE THIS MORNING…
IT WILL BEGIN TO RISE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND LIKELY WILL AGAIN
APPROACH…OR EXCEED…FLOOD STAGE TONIGHT.PEOPLE NEAR THE MERCED RIVER AT POHONO BRIDGE SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT
FOR THE EXPECTED RISE IN THE RIVER LEVEL THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF REQUESTED BY
OFFICIALS OR IF RISING WATER IS OBSERVED.”