Will it snow in Yosemite National Park by Christmas? We asked the experts
Wintertime in Yosemite National Park is something special.
Many visitors say it’s their favorite time of the year to visit — especially when snow transforms the 748,000-acre park nestled in the Sierra Nevada into a winter wonderland.
The Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau described Yosemite National Park as “a magical place for a holiday escape.”
“It’s stunning when winter arrives,” the tourism bureau wrote in a Dec. 14 post on Facebook.
“December really is my favorite time in the park. (There are) clear skies, sunny days, and barely a person in the valley. This is the solitude that stirs the soul,” Reddit user Burgiebeer wrote in a Dec. 11 post in the Yosemite subreddit, sharing a photo of Half Dome. “Without the massive crowds, it’s transformative. Quiet. Peaceful.”
“Honestly, winter is the only time I go to the Valley,” Reddit user DegreeConscious9628 wrote in a comment on the post. “(I) can’t deal with the crowds.”
This year, however, Yosemite enthusiasts might have to wait longer than usual to get their snowy weather fix.
So far in December, the national park has only seen a sprinkling of snow — significantly less than normal for this time of year, experts said.
Even the park’s upper elevations, which experience more snow than other areas, have yet to see much of the cold white stuff, according to Andrew Schwartz, director of the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory at UC Berkeley.
“We’re definitely lacking in the amount of snowfall, particularly in California, Oregon and Washington,” Schwartz told The Fresno Bee via phone on Dec. 11. “We’ve had pretty good snowfall for each of the last three or four years early on, so this is definitely a year that’s lagging.”
Here’s what to know about what’s causing the delay and when visitors can expect snow in Yosemite:
When does it usually snow in Yosemite National Park?
Seasonal attractions at Yosemite National Park — including the iconic Badger Pass Ski Area — typically open in mid-December once the park has experienced a healthy helping of snowfall.
According to Burgiebeer, December snowfall can be “hit or miss” because of the Yosemite Valley’s low elevation.
However, the Reddit user added, the area has “been in a significant dry spell” over the past three weeks or so.
The Central Sierra Snow Laboratory’s data supports that claim.
As of Dec. 11, snowpack levels in the Yosemite area were less than half of what they would normally be this time of year, Schwartz said.
During an average year, the lab typically records about 49 inches of snow by mid-December, he said.
However, lab researchers have only measured about 22 inches of snow so far this season, he said.
The disparity from normal snow levels is even greater at the state level, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
As of Dec. 12, snowpack levels were at about 21% of the usual rate for this time of year, according to the department’s California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program, which measures annual snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades.
The Central Region was at 20% of the usual snowpack rate as of Dec. 12, the program said.
“Some October, November variability is not a big deal, but now that we’re in December, it’s a little more concerning,” Schwartz said.
“One of the challenges this year is it’s been very warm,” Schwartz added. “Typically, December, January and February are the snowiest months. We want to see snow coming in soon or we could be looking at a very dry season — the consequences of that being wildfires and reductions in water storage.”
When will Badger Pass Ski Area open for the season?
Little to no snow means fewer opportunities for skiiers, snowboarders and other winter sports enthusiasts.
Badger Pass Ski Area typically opens to the public sometime in mid-December, “conditions permitting,” according to the National Park Service.
After getting off to a strong start with a Nov. 18 snowstorm that dumped several inches of snow in the park, Badger Pass initially projected its “weather-dependant” opening date for Dec. 13 and 14, Badger Pass wrote in a Nov. 18 post on Facebook.
However, the ski area has had to keep pushing that date back further and further as dry weather drags on.
Large swaths of brown earth were visible beneath a sparse covering of snow at Badger Pass as of Monday, Dec. 16, according to the ski area’s live webcams.
“It’s pretty standard to see snowfall come in, have a little bit of snowpack and then melt off,” Schwartz explained.
“Winter is just being STUBBORN!” Facebook user Justine Fischer wrote in a comment on a Dec. 3 post by Badger Pass Ski Area. “We hiked all last winter since Badger couldn’t open. I’m tired of hiking. ... We want to SKI!!”
As of Dec. 10, Badger Pass Ski Area was projected to open for the season on Jan. 2, 2026, Badger Pass officials announced on Facebook.
Officials said they pushed back the opening date “due to the continued lack of precipitation in the forecast.”
“We are in the middle of ski patrol training to get the team ready for opening day (whenever that gets to be!)” Badger Pass Ski Area said in the Dec. 10 Facebook post. “Keep your snow dances going!!”
Will it snow in Yosemite National Park by Christmas?
According to Schwartz, there’s still time for Yosemite National Park to see snow in December.
The Sierra Nevada saw virtually no snow early in the winter of 2021-2022 — until a storm dumped 16 feet during the last two weeks of December, Schwartz said.
“It’s not time to panic just yet. But (the lack of snow) is growing more concerning with each passing day,” he said. “If we get to the end of January and there’s no snow, that’s when panic is reasonable.”
Luckily, snow is forecast to fall in the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park from Sunday, Dec. 21, through Thursday, Dec. 25, according to weather prediction website OpenSnow.
As of Monday, Dec. 16, a total of 19 inches of snow were expected to fall at Badger Pass during that time period, according to an OpenSnow forecast.
More snow could fall by New Year’s Eve, according to OpenSnow, which says it uses a “proprietary PEAKS model” to produce weather forecasts “up to 50% more accurate in mountain terrain.”
While the storm system set to move in on Dec. 21 will be “mild,” it could bring “wet snow” at elevations above 9,000 feet, Tahoe-area forecaster Bryan Allegretto wrote in OpenSnow’s forecast.
“Colder storms are possible Christmas Eve and into the last week of December,” he wrote.
“How long they last is questionable,” Allegretto wrote in a Dec. 15 forecast.
According to the National Weather Service’s latest area forecast discussion, Central California could see a “more significant pattern change” soon.
There’s a “high risk” — less than 60% — of “heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada” from Wednesday, Dec. 23, through Friday, Dec. 26, the weather service’s Hanford office said in the Tuesday, Dec. 16, area forecast discussion.
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Will it snow in Yosemite National Park by Christmas? We asked the experts."
