Yosemite National Park closed due to heavy snowfall, avalanche concerns

Yosemite National Park has been forced to shut down after a powerful winter storm buried the iconic destination in heavy snow, toppled trees across roads and buildings — and raised the threat of avalanches, officials said.

“Yosemite National Park is closed through Friday due to heavy snowfall and falling trees,” the park said in a notice posted Feb. 19 on its website.

The closure applies to all of the park’s 750,000 acres.

Superintendent Raymond McPadden earlier warned of “high snow loading,” widespread road closures, “on-going tree and limb failures,” and “potential avalanche conditions,” according to a safety notice reviewed by SFGate.

The storm’s force was already being felt inside the Yosemite Valley.

A tree crashed into a dormitory housing employees of Yosemite Hospitality while works were sleeping Thursday morning, SFGate reported. The building and another dorm were evacuated to Curry Village, and no injuries were reported.

Ahead of the storm, Yosemite Hospitality cleared out campgrounds and Curry Village’s soft-sided canvas tent cabins, according to SFGate. Employees who normally live in the tents were moved into the pavilion, where they were spending the night on cots and mattresses.

“An overnight shelter for employees displaced out of tents” was set up, Yosemite Hospitality spokesperson Christ Collom said in a Feb. 17 email reviewed by SFGate.

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Visitors with lodging reserved are still allowesd to enter through the Highway 140 (Arch Rock) entrance, but travel inside the park is restricted to essential needs or emergencies — including getting food or water, seeking medical care or returning home.

Officials said the shutdown will remain in place through Friday unless extended.