Yosemite flood closure

This area will be closed until at least May 3 starting this Friday 

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/faq.htm#flood

Does anyone know if they’re kicking all the people who are already in the park out or if they’re just not allowing people to come into the park those days?

Kicked out

"Most of Yosemite Valley will close starting Friday, April 28, at 10 pm, due to a forecast of flooding. This closure will be in place until Wednesday, May 3, but could last longer. Reservations for lodging and campgrounds in eastern Yosemite Valley will automatically be canceled and refunded. Wilderness permits can be rescheduled to alternate trailheads as space allows."

Anyone have any more updated info on when they expect to lift the closure? Hydrologists with predictions on the flooding? It seems odd/random that they only predict 5 days of signicant flooding? I'm seeing warm weather through Wednesday (but not extreme enough to warrant a significant runoff event) then snow at higher elevations Wednesday-Friday. 

Bug Boywrote:

Anyone have any more updated info on when they expect to lift the closure? Hydrologists with predictions on the flooding? It seems odd/random that they only predict 5 days of signicant flooding? I'm seeing warm weather through Wednesday (but not extreme enough to warrant a significant runoff event) then snow at higher elevations Wednesday-Friday. 

I don’t know what forecast you are looking at, but I am seeing freezing temperatures at higher elevations in the Sierra starting Monday night.

Bug Boywrote:

Anyone have any more updated info on when they expect to lift the closure? Hydrologists with predictions on the flooding? It seems odd/random that they only predict 5 days of signicant flooding? I'm seeing warm weather through Wednesday (but not extreme enough to warrant a significant runoff event) then snow at higher elevations Wednesday-Friday. 

It's not random, the temp drops significantly starting Monday. The flood is the result of the heat wave this weekend, they will reopen when the flooding receeds. Maybe on Wed, maybe longer. The NPS can't predict the future. It's an unusual year in California, we all need to be patient and deal with unusual conditions this spring/summer.

Cory Bwrote:

It's not random, the temp drops significantly starting Monday. The flood is the result of the heat wave this weekend, they will reopen when the flooding receeds. Maybe on Wed, maybe longer. The NPS can't predict the future. It's an unusual year in California, we all need to be patient and deal with unusual conditions this spring/summer.

Gotcha, makes sense actually, just been high 80's in bishop all week and above freezing up high for the past few days as well. Thank god I'm really patient.

Edit: yes the NPS can’t predict the future but forecasting flooding using SWE, historic flooding, and temperature forecast isn’t alchemy. 

https://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/ensembleProduct.php?id=POHC1&prodID=4

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

Do you all think it will be okay by mid June? We are planning to come then. Any insights appreciated!

UPDATE 

“All of Yosemite Valley will be open Sunday from 7 am to 8 pm for day-use only with very limited services. Yosemite Valley will reopen fully on Monday at 7 am.”

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

This was the extent of the highest water we saw from El Cap Tower today (April 30). Temperatures are cooling off from here on (with big pattern change coming Monday evening), so I believe this is the highest extent (consistent with NWS River Center forecast from Jared). The meadows are clearly flooded up valley but El Cap meadow is only partly inundated and the roads are fine.