A dusting of snow today has created excitement about the early arrival of winter to the High Sierra, although how unusual is it for snow to fall in September?

Despite the early snowfall, the Tioga Road (SR 120 across Yosemite National Park) remains open.  It is not planned to close for winter until November, and typically must do so at some time in winter because of its elevation and that it is not cleared of snow in winter.

Since 1933, the earliest the Tioga Road closed was Sept. 4 (1943 and 1944).  It closed as early as September in 1933, 34, 36, 43, 44, 45 and 1948.  During the 1940s, the road’s average closing date was 30 Sept., but that may have had more to do with management of the road during the war years, than snow depth.  The latest the Tioga Road remained open was until Jan. 1 in 2000.  Typically, the Tioga Road closes for winter on November 1.

This year, it’s anyone’s guess whether the road will close early, close as predicted or remain open for months to come.  Though, a September snowstorm has generated excitement in the High Sierra about a long, wet winter.