Arts & Culture
Snow blankets a wintry landscape seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park in California on Feb. 22, 2023. | Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
With as much as 15 feet of snow piling up in some areas, Yosemite National Park has indefinitely closed its awe-inspiring sights to visitors.
"There is no estimated date for reopening," the park posted on social media late Tuesday afternoon. A National Park Service official confirmed Wednesday that there was no timeline for opening things up to visitors and and said "there are snow impacts throughout the park!"
But would-be park guests and longtime fans need not despair—Yosemite unveiled a new live webcam this week that showcases the winter wonderland views of El Capitan, Half Dome and Yosemite Valley.
The dramatic weather makes it difficult to see, but the left side view of the new video feed features the 3,000-foot-tall granite formation El Capitan, popular the world over with adventurous rock climbers.
Yosemite closed Saturday, Feb. 25, with the intention of reopening Wednesday, March 1, but the weather had other plans for the park.
Yosemite has experienced significant snowfall in all areas of the park, with snow up to 15 feet deep in some areas and the park’s closure on Feb. 25. Park crews are working to restore critical services so visitors can safely return. There is no estimated date for reopening. pic.twitter.com/JE7E4SKWuq
— Yosemite National Park (@YosemiteNPS) March 1, 2023
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The weather forecast on the park's valley floor called for a low of 15 degrees and a high of 31 on Wednesday. The park's peaks were expected to drop to temperatures of around 7 degrees.
California's cold snap resulted in winter storm warnings issued across the state, with snow peppering rarely impacted regions, including the Bay Area, Santa Cruz and even normally sunny Los Angeles County.
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