Mountain Passes Remain Closed

Sonora, CA — Although the wet weather has already blown through the region, all the mountain passes continue to be closed to traffic.

As reported last week, wet weather shut down Highway 108 Sonora Pass at Kennedy Meadows, Highway 4 Ebbetts Pass at the Mt. Reba turnoff and Highway 120 Tioga Pass at Crane Flat. Those roadways remain closed to travel today with no estimate date for reopening. However, Caltrans spokesperson Rick Estrada stresses, “Any decision to close the passes for the winter season won’t be made until a later date and that will be based on weather conditions.”

Yosemite National Park officials report Tioga Pass is currently closed as the storm dropped upwards of 5 inches of snow in the higher elevations. Park spokesperson Ashley Mayer says, “The snow coupled with the cold temperatures has resulted in icy, winter conditions on several park roads.”  She adds there was even a dusting of snow in Yosemite Valley.