Heavy snow, wind gusts forecast for Yosemite. What to know ahead of winter storm
Heavy snow and gusty winds are expected to hit Yosemite National Park as a winter storm sweeps through the Sierra Nevada, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service on Friday issued a winter storm warning for Yosemite and other parts of Central California.
Here’s what to know ahead of the storm:
When does winter storm warning go into effect?
The winter storm warning will be in effect from 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, through 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, according to the National Weather Service.
“Heavy snow” is expected, with total accumulations of up to 60 inches and wind gusts as high as 40 mph, the weather agency said.
Which areas will see heavy snow and wind gusts?
Areas affected by the winter storm warning include Yosemite, the upper San Joaquin River, the Grant Grove area and Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, the weather service said.
The weather agency said cities including Hume Lake, Johnsdale, Huntington Lake, Lake Wishon, Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, Shaver Lake, Florence Lake, Grant Grove and Cedar Grove could see wintry weather.
Weather service: Avoid travel on hazardous roads
“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous,” the weather service said in its warning. “Travel could be very difficult to impossible.”
The hazardous road conditions could even “impact the Monday morning commute,” the weather service warned.
Weather service officials are urging area residents to stay off the road.
“If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility,” the weather service said. “Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns.”
You should also keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your car in case of an emergency, officials said.
Which roads are closed in Yosemite Valley?
Several routes in Yosemite National Park close during the winter, including Badger Pass Road, Mariposa Grove Road and Tioga Road.
As of Friday, Highway 120 was closed “for the winter” from the Yosemite National Park boundary at Tuolumne to 3.5 miles west of the north junction of Highway 395 in Mono County, according to the California Department of Transportation.
Highway 120 was also closed near the junction with Highway 6 in Mono County due to snow, Caltrans said.
Chains or snow tires were required in the area, according to the area.
How much snowfall will Sierra Nevada get?
Higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada could see a foot of snowfall per day on Saturday through Monday, the National Weather Service’s Hanford office said in a Jan. 1 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Areas between 6,000 and 7,000 feet of elevation could see total snow accumulations between 6 and 18 inches, the weather service said, while those at elevations above 8,000 feet could receive 3 to 5 feet of snowfall.
This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Heavy snow, wind gusts forecast for Yosemite. What to know ahead of winter storm."
