Yosemite closes Tioga Road as season’s first storm moves into Fresno area with rain forecast
It’s officially sweater weather in Fresno — and you may want to pull out an umbrella, as well.
The National Weather Service on Tuesday predicted cooler temperatures and chances of rain through Thursday. And according to the service’s daily forecast discussion, the area “could see a continuation of unsettled weather going into the early part of next week.”
This is the first significant storm of the wet season, the NWS says, and it could bring anywhere from a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain in Fresno.
It will also likely bring heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet beginning Tuesday afternoon. The weather service issued awWinter storm warning for parts of the region, where snowfall could reach 2 feet.
That includes Yosemite National Park, which closed Tioga Road on Monday night due to the forecast. Tire chains may be required on open roads, according to the park service. Travelers should check for current road conditions.
The closure of Tioga Road is expected to be temporary, but the road connecting central and eastern California typically closes for the season sometime in November and reopens in late May or early June.
On a similar note, Caltrans is closing Highway 180 at Hume Lake Road west of Kings Canyon National Park, starting Nov. 14. This is a seasonal closure, Caltrans said, due due to potential rockfalls in the area. The highway will reopen in the spring.
This story was originally published November 1, 2022 at 12:41 PM.