It was impossible to see Half Dome through the smoke in the Yosemite Valley on Thursday afternoon/Yosemite Conservancy

Yosemite and Kings Canyon national park officials moved to close their parks Thursday evening because of poor air quality that was judged to be in the hazardous range due to wildfires in California. Both were to close at 5 p.m. local time.

"With air quality projected to be in the unhealthy to hazardous range over the next several days, the park anticipates the closure to be in effect at least throughout the weekend," a Yosemite release said. "The park will continue to assess the smoke impacts, air quality index, and fire activity throughout the region."

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, call 209-372-0200 and press 1. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose and on the Yosemite National Park Facebook page. 

For detailed information on current conditions, campgrounds, air quality, and smoke impacts, visit https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

Sequoia National Park to the south of Yosemite closed on Tuesday due to the close proximity of the SQF Complex of fires that prompted an evacuation order in nearby communities.