El Capitan and the Merced River, February 15th
Earlier in the week forecasters weren’t expecting much precipitation out of the storm that’s arriving now in the Sierra, but the National Weather Service is now predicting up to a foot of snow in Yosemite Valley, and they’ve issued a winter storm warning for today and tonight. A foot of snow will make driving and walking in Yosemite Valley difficult, but it should be beautiful when it clears.
The two accompanying photographs are from the morning of February 15th. About four inches of snow fell the night before, and the storm cleared just before sunrise, creating perfect conditions. If you were to rank Yosemite sunrises on a scale of one to ten for their photographic potential, this one was a ten. Were any of you there that morning?
The current storm may revive Horsetail Fall, but the window of best light has passed. The light on Horsetail can still be beautiful in early March, but the color, at best, will be gold, not orange or red. I don’t expect this one storm will cause a sudden gushing either, but it should create some flow.
—Michael Frye
Related Posts: Quick Horsetail Update; Horsetail Dries Up!
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author and photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters, plus the eBook Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom. He has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California
Three Brothers and the Merced River, February 15th
Wow!! You sure know when to “feed my need” *LOL*
I so appreciate all of the fantastic photos you post. It’s the next best thing to being there 🙂
Those pictures are breathtaking, Michael. I’m looking forward to my first trip to Yosemite in April, and your work is very inspiring and useful for planning!
Beautiful images Michael.
I was there on the 15th… but slept through the sunrise, ughhh… I looked outside from El Portal the night before and it didn’t look too promising, so I stayed up for a while longer and ended up waking up at around 8:00am… when I looked outside in the morning, my heart dropped! I missed the snowy sunrise I’d been wanting all year!
Beautiful shots, Michael! I just returned from Utah, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it back up there for this storm- fingers crossed there will be another one when I can!
Wow! You got some great shots there. Was thinking of heading there that day but slept in to 7AM and had just enough time to get some morning local Poderrosa Basin and Ahwahnee Hills Park shots. Still it was a magical day and great for picture taking. Nothing like a sunny morning after a snowfall. You really scored.
I keep looking at the Conservancy cams and so far there doesn’t seem to be a lot if snow in the valley. But that should change as this storm builds. I’m wondering if tomorrow, Thursday will be ideal. Even now I’m wondering what if the clouds break open for sunset? This stuff gets me all wired up. And then you go and post these amazing pics. :o)
Jealous!! I stood in that exact same place last Saturday with no clouds or snow but still got a great shot of the three brothers. Stay warm!
Great images! Can’t wait to get to Yosemite. I’ll be stopping in April for 5 days on my way to Olympic National Park.
I love the Three Brothers shot, Michael. Gotta be one of my favorites of yours.
Michael, I was there on the 15th, drove in to the valley around 2 p.m. So wished we hadn’t dawdled early in the morning. Everything was melting by then but the mist was still swirling around granite and it was a wonderful day. Every day in Yosemite is a wonderful day….except maybe in July.
Thanks for the encouragement! Nice shots! — I’m packing now for a Friday night blast up to catch Saturday sunrise. Could be EPIC!
Thanks Michael, for the conditions report. I’ve been watching the forecasts, but it’s nothing like getting a report from you. Planning to go Thursday or Friday, depending on what the weather does.
Brilliant shots Michael! Really appreciate your composition…..nice touch with the clouds over the Three Brothers…thanks for sharing
Michael, thank you for continuing to share from that special spot on the Merced. I will never forget the two mornings I have spent there.
Glad you remember that spot so well!
Hi Michael – looking at the current forecast, it looks like Friday morning might be ideal with clearing conditions. I’m now seriously toying with the idea of driving the 4.5 hours from Santa Cruz to the valley floor by Friday sunrise. With the snow forecasted and your experience, do you think the roads will be cleared enough to allow driving into the park and around the valley floor Friday morning? I do have cables for my 4WD Highlander if need be. Thanks!
Thanks very much for the kind words about the photos everyone – I really appreciate that.
For those thinking of coming to Yosemite to try and catch the clearing storm, I think Friday will be too late. Although the forecast calls for lingering showers tomorrow, I think there’s a good chance there will be a break sometime during the day, though I couldn’t say when at this point. Could be morning, could be afternoon, or could be more than one break with that kind of showery weather. Keep an eye on satellite photos.
It could also hold off and not really clear until after dark, but if so it will probably do so shortly after sunset, and the clouds and mist will clear out before Friday morning.
Roads in Yosemite Valley are R0 right now – no chains required. But call 209-372-0200 to check for updates. There is no access to Yosemite Valley via Highway 120 for the next six weeks, so if you’re coming from Sacramento or the Bay Area you’ll have to take 140.
Thanks for the update Michael – I’ll take a look at the weather in the AM. And glad you mentioned 120 🙁 ugggy instead of an hour to the park, it’s over 2.
Yes thanks for the update Michael with the phone number for road conditions. FYI – a Wednesday 8pm update to the NWS’ Winter Storm Warning for the Yosemite area has now been extended from 2am Thursday to 4pm Thursday with snow showers continuing through Thursday afternoon. So perhaps Friday sunrise may yet have clouds and mist? If not, then at least everything will still be relatively white.
Looking at the park cams this morning . I can’t help but picture Michael huddled over his tripod and camera with a warm smile on his face as the first light of dawn peeks through the cloud.
Jealous ? You bet.
Have a great day Michael .
I totally agree. Wish i had the day off. I am so jealous! Michael’s work is amazing.
Wish I’d been there! But I had a pressing deadline that couldn’t accommodate a trip to the park. Hope someone else was there!
Michael – I studied the webcams all day Thursday and it looked fairly overcast but perhaps the sunset had some mix of clouds/mist/sun. The snow didn’t appear particularly heavy during Thursday as previously predicted by the winter storm warning. I bailed on driving to Yosemite overnight in a fit of laziness. As you predicted, the webcams at sunrise Friday morning showed very clear skies and no obvious mist/clouds.
Absolutely beeeeUTAfull
See I leave, then the snow comes:-) My wife thinks I am crazy, I wana drive (12hours for those that are complaining about 4.5) tommorow , stay two days and come back and work to pay to the gas:-(
Michael, Fall??? timing , what has been the best over the years?
thanks so much for the pics
I did get some good ones while there just without the snow
steve
Thanks Steve! As for fall – it’s been all over the place in recent years. The fall color peak in Yosemite Valley could be anywhere from mid-October to early November. Late October is probably most likely time if you have to plan well in advance.
Magnificant Michael
Thanks John!
Hey Michael!
I’m excited to hear an expert thought it was a great morning too! I was there for the snow on the 13th and 15th. You must have hit the 3 brothers spot right before me! Funny that one I don’t remember being in the book!=) Great spot and great morning wasn’t it! I thought I saw you in the food court but I was too chicken to say hi I guess! Great work as always! See mine here if your interested! (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=376353165711082&set=a.376350119044720.98570.133646903315044&type=3&theater)
Sam, glad you were there that morning – you’re lucky! Yes, that spot is in the book, and the app, but you have to read carefully. 🙂 Next time please say hi!