Watch: Stunning views over waterfalls at Yosemite National Park from above in 2023
Here's what it looked like when LiveCopter 3 flew over Yosemite National Park on Friday, April 28.
Updated: 4:47 PM PDT May 1, 2023
We're over the Yosemite Valley. You're looking at Bridal Vale Falls. Of course, Yosemite is known for its waterfalls and especially in *** year like this, we've had an amazing amount of snow, the snow pack here, well over 200% of average. And now with the warmer weather, everything is beginning to flow down into the valley. So that is Bridal Vale Falls and actually be able to see bridal Vale Falls this weekend. That's part of the park that will still be open. But as you look farther up the valley onto the other side of El Capitan, that's the part of the valley that will be closed this weekend in the middle of your picture right there. That is the Merced River and it is starting to run high and it's starting to spill into some of the meadows that are up by the awa up by the chapel kind of at the base of Yosemite Falls if you will. And from this picture, you can start to see the high water, the river is still forecast to come up more than two ft between now and Sunday and Monday when it is going to be peaking here and that's another two ft. You can see how much is going to spread out here and it may even impact part of south side road or north side road. And that's why this part of the park is going to be closed. And as you can see, we are still seeing *** huge amounts of water come down. Both Yosemite Falls, Bernal Falls, Nevada Falls, they're all flowing just incredibly. And the good news here is the snow pack is so big that even though we have this weekend closure coming up, you're going to have plenty of opportunities to see more these waterfalls as we head through the spring and summer months. As you can see up above here, up around 89 10,000 ft, the snow pack is still really thick, measured at more than 10 ft in some areas. So the waterfalls that are so impressive this weekend will continue to look at that way all the way into the early, probably even mid summer here. So just because part of the park is closed this weekend doesn't mean you're not going to be able to enjoy the park as we head into the summer months. The waterfalls are amazing now and they will be for months to come.
Watch: Stunning views over waterfalls at Yosemite National Park from above in 2023
Here's what it looked like when LiveCopter 3 flew over Yosemite National Park on Friday, April 28.
Updated: 4:47 PM PDT May 1, 2023
YOSEMITE VALLEY, Calif. —
LiveCopter 3 flew over Yosemite National Park on Friday, April 28, 2023, with Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan on board.
The tour captured stunning images of waterfalls as snow had begun melting. Yosemite park officials said to expect possible closures in the valley off and on due to possible flooding. Here are some of the sights that LiveCopter 3 captured by air.
See Mark talk about some of the sites in the video above and take a look at more raw video below.
View of El Capitan and Half Dome
View of Bridalveil Fall, the Yosemite Valley and Half Dome
View of of Bridalveil Fall
View of Upper Yosemite Falls