Storms that pummelled much of the west coast in June may have helped a hot, dry summer come to an end, but the subsequent storms are now being met with the Sierra Nevada snowpack draining the valley.
With Yosemite’s water bodies rising (the last time we reported, the pool was 80% below normal), and the Receding Rims park becoming a popular spot for public hiking (which means clearing off the old trails in preparation for winter traffic), there may soon be an influx of humans into what used to be a truly wild place.
Visitors look over a tree in Yosemite National Park, California. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
In addition to the Sierra Nevada downpours, heavy rains also unleashed flash floods throughout much of the state, flooding highways, tying up traffic, and causing the evacuation of several rural communities.
In Yosemite Valley, after two days of steady rain the entire park would normally be almost bone dry, but with enough water to make it the second driest, it won’t stay that way for much longer.
The Eisenhower Memorial, above Mount St. Helen’s, California. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Easing heat (temperatures have risen from the 90s down to the 60s over the past few weeks) and ocean warming are also aiding increased precipitation patterns along the west coast.
Image: mashable.com
Wouldn’t it be nice to spend the summer waiting for winter?
