weather in yosemite in May
 

We are going to Yosemite in Mid-May. Will we be able to go over the pass. What weather should we expect for hiking.

We went in mid-May a few years ago. Waterfalls were spectacular. Weather was cold in the morning, but warm [not hot] in the afternoon. By cold I mean in the 40s and by warm I mean in the 70s.

Warning, though, there were LOTS of mosquitos.

Because of the snowpack that year, we were unable to hike to Half Dome. The last part of the hike was still closed. They've had plenty of snow this year.

Its becoming harder and harder to predict weather based on past years. If I were you, I would start by checking the NPS site for current weather predictions.

Tioga Pass will be closed. They will have a gate across highway 120 at Crane Flat so you will not likely be able access Tuolumne Meadows, either.

Expect lots of mud, melting snow, pooled water, and mosquitoes

We honeymooned in Yosemite mid-May in 1983 after a very wet winter and early spring. I don't remember if we had record snowfall as far south as Yosemite that year as we've had this year. We will never forget that trip: It rained here in Sonoma County right up to our wedding day when the sun came out in all it's glory. We drove to Yosemite and spent three days in the park staying at the Narrow Gauge Inn near the south entrance. The wildflowers were bursting forth, the waterfalls were hugh, the place was magic. If we get a warm-up between now and when you go (& we're well due one!!), hopefully you will have the same experience, magic.

It's hard to predict what the weather will be in mid May this far in advance. Check Weather.com before you leave home to get an idea of what kind of weather you can expect that week.

We've been to Yosemite in April and I wore shorts on the hikes and we've been in May and had a couple of inches of snow fall in the Valley.

It's very doubtful that Tioga Pass will be open by mid-May this year. Keep an eye on http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm and http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm

No matter what the weather...Yosemite will be beautiful this time of the year!

Utahtea

Tioga Pass is might open in mid May during normal snow years. There are currently more than 12 feet of snow to plow this year.

Here is the plowing update:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm

Yosemite has posted opening dates with the additional information of how much snow was present won April 1 of each year. I think the new information is really helpful.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm