This news story about the closure of Yosemite Valley due to expected flooding is based on an April 25, 2023, Twitter thread by Yosemite National Park. You can read the original thread here.
After winter storms dumped massive amounts of snow on the mountains and valleys of Yosemite National Park, forcing the park to close entirely for a few weeks, that snow is now starting to melt, which will most likely cause significant flooding in the park.
Therefore, as a precautionary measure, Yosemite National Park management has decided to close Yosemite Valley temporarily.
Yosemite National Park Expects Flooding, Closes Eastern Yosemite Valley
In its Twitter thread, the park said that “[m]ost of Yosemite Valley will close starting Friday, April 28, at 10 pm, due to a forecast of flooding. This closure will last until Wednesday, May 3—possibly longer. Additional flooding and closures may occur later in May or June.”
Specifically, the Yosemite Valley closure will be at El Capitan crossover, which is the road that crosses the Merced River just east of El Capitan. The entire area east of that road will be closed to visitors, including pedestrians.
Yosemite National Park also added that other areas will remain open during that time. Visitors will still be able to access places like Wawona, Mariposa Grove (only on foot), the Crane Flat Area, Hetch Hetchy, and the western part of Yosemite Valley.
Additionally, visitors who still want to visit the western Yosemite Valley are forewarned that vehicle travel and parking will be extremely limited during the eastern Yosemite Valley closure. No services will be available in the valley.
People who have reservations for lodging or campgrounds in the eastern Yosemite Valley for those days will receive a refund. All those reservations will automatically be cancelled. Anyone with a wilderness permit can reschedule their trip to another trailhead as space allows.
You can find much more information about the possibility of flooding in Yosemite Valley, as well as other conditions, area closures, and trail and road conditions here on the park’s website.