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Floodwaters Draining From Yosemite Valley

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Published Date

April 8, 2018
Sunshine returned to Yosemite National Park on Sunday, April 8, 2018 after a day of flooding/NPS

Sunshine returned to Yosemite National Park on Sunday after a day of flooding in the Yosemite Valley/NPS webcam

Sunshine swept across Yosemite National Park on Sunday as floodwaters drained from the Yosemite Valley, allowing park staff to assess conditions around the iconic setting with plans to reopen it later in the day. At the height of the flooding Saturday, water covered Cooks Meadow and flowed over the Swinging Bridge that spanned the Merced River.

At one point Saturday the river went nearly 4 feet above flood stage, and heavy equipment had to be used to clear log jams piling up against road bridges in the valley. Campgrounds and lodgings in the valley had been closed Friday evening, forcing visitors to leave the valley before the brunt of the storm. Housekeeping Camp was inundated by floodwaters, which flowed through its three-sided concrete units.

At times Saturday, dozens of small, spontaeous waterfalls coursed like wispy tendrils down the granite walls that frame the 7-mile-long, mile-wide valley.

Heavy rains Saturday left Cooks Meadow underwater in Yosemite Valley/NPS

Heavy equipment was needed to clear logjams in the Yosemite Valley/NPS

Units in Housekeeping Camp in the Yosemite Valley were inundated by floodwaters/NPS

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