yosemite to flood??

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Matt's

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 4, 2017 - 06:32pm PT
Looks like they are predicting near-record levels on the merced river this sunday:

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=hnx&gage=pohc1


EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Jan 4, 2017 - 06:40pm PT
http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/obsRiver.php?id=POHC1

here is the link for actual... updated hourly... and it is rising...

it has been over 19 feet only 3 times since 1938, we will see if it is so warm that the drainage basin gets rain instead of snow.... lets hope for more snow than rain. The models can be correct about precipitation and wildly wrong about runoff if it gets cold enough to snow instead of rain... i hope for less than 19 feet, maybe only 15 feet, that would be great for the Valley...

At least we do not have to wait 400 years to see if the models were correct. we will be able to say yes or no, in 4 days.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jan 4, 2017 - 06:57pm PT
Wow, looks like a repeat of the previous record, 20 years ago.
Impacts - E19 Information
6.5 Feet River is closed to rafters and floatation.
9.0 Feet Chapel Meadow (south side of river) and Cooks Meadow (north side of river) begins to experience overflow.
9.5 Feet Portion of Lower Pines Campground becomes flooded. Limited site-specific evacuations begin at Housekeeping Camp located along the south-facing bank of the Merced River. (Upstream from Sentinel Bridge and downstream from Stoneman Bridge)
10.0 Feet Western portion of North Pines Campground, located at the east end of Yosemite Valley between the confluence of the Merced River and Tenaya Creek, begins to flood. Water rises to the base of the swinging bridge downstream from Chapel Meadow.
10.5 Feet Water tops the swinging bridge downstream from Chapel Meadow. Overflow from Woski Pond floods access road (Northside Drive) leading out of the west entrance of the park.
11.5 Feet Sewage pumping relay station at North Pines Campground becomes flooded.
12.5 Feet Northside Drive and Southside Drive, which are the main roads in Yosemite Valley, become flooded and are closed to traffic.
23.45 Feet Flood of record (01/02/1997). $178 Million damage to Yosemite Valley.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1097492/Yosemite-Flood-97
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
Jan 4, 2017 - 06:58pm PT
Yikes.

The river that flows through fabled Yosemite Valley is expected to overflow its banks during this weekend’s storms, rising even higher than it did during the devastating flood of 1997.
Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that the Merced River would surge to a level of 23.7 feet, about a half a foot higher than it did 20 years ago when the river flooded a valley hotel and other facilities, causing an estimated $176 million damage.
Srbphoto

climber
Kennewick wa
Jan 4, 2017 - 07:43pm PT
saw Mammoth has a base of 170" on top and 80" at the lodge. With 30" to 50" of new. They already received 135" at the lodge this year.
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Jan 4, 2017 - 08:01pm PT
and incredibly, there is no threat listed for Monday... warmer rain... i don't get it
WBraun

climber
Jan 4, 2017 - 08:09pm PT
The 97 flood was because it rained like hell above 10,000 feet with a huge snow pack already laid down.

We fought like hell to save the pumps. It was brutal in the icy river pushing logs aside.

I thought I was going to die of hyperthermia.

Lober and Jeff Sullivan did last way longer than I did in that freezing water.

We had to use jumars onto ropes tied to trees to get back against the current.

It was overwhelming.

Then all was lost, because pumps failed and got destroyed .......


Matt's

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 4, 2017 - 08:11pm PT
werner-- what do you mean by pumps? Sewer pumps?
Matt's

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 4, 2017 - 08:12pm PT
Also-- I have a friend who is considering flying in in late january. If flood waters do reach 23ft, will the valley likely be closed for a while?

thanks,
matt
WBraun

climber
Jan 4, 2017 - 08:14pm PT
Yeah Matt, the sewer pumps .....
Matt's

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 4, 2017 - 08:17pm PT
Kingtut-- I was referring to whether the roads would be closed.
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Jan 4, 2017 - 08:25pm PT
the ggeeekboy model only forecasters apparently do not have a hallowed "Model" for warm rain on snow, the model shows no threat after sunday,,, nuts. lets just hope it snows hard and it stays well below the prediction.. after all the NOAH office of 30 day forecast used to be 60% inaccurate, you could flip their forecast and be better than they were.
WBraun

climber
Jan 4, 2017 - 08:27pm PT
During the 97 floods the park was closed because the sewage pumps were destroyed and the sewage pipes going to the treatment plant in el portal were destroyed.

The whole infrastructure to was destroyed ......
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Jan 4, 2017 - 09:52pm PT
it was after satellites and doppler dingus...

let's just watch what happens,
and you can tell me i told you so if it gets to 23 feet on sunday,
and i will tell you the models suck if it never tops 19 feet.

personal prediction, not over 17 feet, what is your number Dingus?


and what if the real high comes on Monday, where my concern is,
and the model boys raise no concern...

then we can feel bad about the damage together.
Bluelens

Social climber
Pasadena, CA
Jan 4, 2017 - 10:10pm PT
https://twitter.com/yosemitenps/status/816776069877362688
Gunkie

Trad climber
Valles Marineris
Jan 5, 2017 - 10:13am PT
So what needs trundling?
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Jan 5, 2017 - 10:34am PT
Ok that is funny

But the prospect of 23 feet is not...
Hope for snow
matty

Trad climber
under the sea
Jan 5, 2017 - 10:55am PT
Prediction lowered to 15.5ft per link in opening post.
Mr_T

Trad climber
Northern California
Jan 5, 2017 - 12:13pm PT
So what needs trundling?

Trundling was the order of the day in 97. A big block near the top of the Nose was cut loose then.
nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Jan 5, 2017 - 12:53pm PT
seems like an appropriate thread for this:

Messages 1 - 20 of total 202 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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