Yosemite's snowpack collapses

# Yosemite's snowpack collapses Yosemite’s high country went into April with a shockingly thin snowpack. In the Tuolumne River Basin, which includes Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park reported snowpack at just 37% of the historical April 1 average after an unusually hot March stripped away much of the winter snow. (nps.gov) That number matters because April 1 is the benchmark date water managers and park planners use to judge how much mountain snow is left to melt through spring and early summer. In California, the Sierra snowpack acts like a natural reservoir, releasing water gradually into creeks, rivers, and downstream storage systems as temperatures rise. (water.ca.gov) (cdec.water.ca.gov) In Yosemite, that slow release shapes almost everything about the spring season. It influences stream crossings in the backcountry, how long small water sources last along trails, when high-country ground dries out, and how much runoff reaches lower-elevation rivers and reservoirs. (unofficialnetworks.com) (nps.gov) The collapse did not happen because Yosemite had no winter at all. Park staff at Tuolumne Meadows recorded 6 inches of new snow around April 1 and a settled snow depth of 20 inches, but they also logged a high temperature of 63 degrees Fahrenheit on March 25, a sign of how much warmth hit the high country late in the season. (nps.gov) That warmth was part of a wider California pattern. The California Department of Water Resources said record-hot March conditions accelerated snowmelt across the Sierra Nevada, and by late March the statewide snowpack was melting at an average pace of about 1% per day. (water.ca.gov) By April 1, the statewide picture was even worse than Yosemite’s basin-level number suggests. California’s fourth snow survey found essentially no measurable snow at Phillips Station, one of the state’s key long-running survey sites, and news coverage described the Sierra Nevada snowpack as the second-lowest April 1 reading on record statewide. (goldrushcam.com) (nbclosangeles.com) For Yosemite visitors, the first practical question is road access. Tioga Road, the route that opens the park’s high country to most drivers each year, is still closed for winter, and California Highway 120 over Tioga Pass remained closed as of April 7, 2026. (roads.dot.ca.gov) (nps.gov) Low snowpack can help roads melt out faster, but it does not guarantee an opening date. Yosemite notes that Tioga Road openings depend on plowing progress, storm damage, avalanche conditions, and road repairs, not just how much snow is sitting on the ground. (nps.gov) The same caution applies to hiking plans. A lean snow year can make some trails dry out earlier than usual, but it can also leave creeks running unpredictably, shrink reliable backcountry water sources sooner, and create a false sense that the high country is fully “summer ready” when nights are still freezing and weather can still turn quickly. (unofficialnetworks.com) (nps.gov) River users should pay attention too. When snow melts early and fast, runoff often arrives in a shorter burst instead of a long, steady release, which can change boating conditions and reduce the amount of late-season water feeding downstream systems. (water.ca.gov) (unofficialnetworks.com) There is one important nuance in this year’s water picture. Even with the snowpack in bad shape, California entered spring with many major reservoirs still in relatively strong condition because of water stored from prior wet periods, which may soften immediate statewide supply impacts even as the mountain snow signal worsens. (sandiegouniontribune.com) For Yosemite itself, though, the message is simple: treat 2026 like an early, uneven melt year. Check Tioga Road status before driving, confirm trail water availability before overnight trips, and expect spring conditions in the high country to change faster than the calendar suggests. (roads.dot.ca.gov) (nps.gov)