The Merced River in Yosemite Valley has reached flood stage, the National Weather Service said.
At Pohono Bridge, at the valley’s west end, the river was at 12.08 feet early Monday. Ten feet is considered “minor flood stage.” The forecast for this week does not predict the river will reach the “moderate flood stage” of 12½ feet, at which Northside and Southside drives would be closed to traffic.
At Happy Isles, at the valley’s east end, the river was at 8.4 feet, a few inches above the minor flood stage of 8. Moderate flood stage there is 10 feet.
Because of high water caused by melting of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, the Yosemite Valley campgrounds Lower Pines, North Pines and Housekeeping Camp have been closed since last week.
The highest crest on record for the Merced at Pohono Bridge is 23½ feet in January 1997, the weather service said. In May 2005, it reached 12½ feet.
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