Yosemite in May is usually ripe with spring flowers and rushing waterfalls. Spring is the time of year to behold the amazing beauty created by the snow pack melting and feeding creeks which produce a multitude of waterfalls jutting off the cliffsides into the canyons below. This year a surprise is in store for tourists interested in viewing these natural wonders. An early May storm has created an abundance of warm water which has in turn started an increase in snowmelt. The Yosemite Valley recieved more than 2 inches of rain which caused the Merced River to rise 9 feet.
The combination of spring snowmelt plus the extra water from the recent storm has caused waterfalls in Yosemite to overflow and in some instances create larger outlets or multiple outlets to relieve the excess water flow from the mountains snowpack. Luckily for Yosemite tourists the Merced River and smaller tributaries are unlikely to flood. Although a few campgrounds were initially closed due to the chance of flooding most have been re-opened along with foot bridges and trails. This excess water is also good news for area residents who rely on water from the mountains to fill their reservoirs and rivers. Yosemite tourists can also take advantage of the excess water by kayaking and canoeing down the Merced River near Yosemite while taking in the spectacular spring scenery of the Yosemite Valley.
