Weather

Yosemite Visitors Warned of Thunderstorms, Pea-Sized Hail, and Lightning

BySaluda Standard Sentinel Team September 30, 2025September 30, 2025

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Visitors at Yosemite were urged to seek shelter Monday afternoon after the National Weather Service (NWS) tracked a strong thunderstorm bringing pea-sized hail, torrential rain, and frequent lightning to the area.

Storm Moves Across Park

At 4:21 p.m., Doppler radar detected a thunderstorm about 13 miles north of Yosemite Valley, moving northeast at 20 mph. The NWS warned that minor hail damage to vegetation was possible and advised all visitors to take precautions.

Officials cautioned against traveling through flooded roads and reminded park visitors that lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from the storm center.

Safety Guidance From NWS

The NWS provided clear instructions for those caught in the storm:

Seek shelter indoors or inside a vehicle as soon as thunder is heard.
Avoid corded phones, plumbing, and windows while inside buildings.
Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before resuming outdoor activities.

For those without indoor shelter, officials advised avoiding open fields, ridge tops, and tall isolated trees. Campers were urged not to rely on tents for protection, but instead move to valleys or ravines.

Driving Dangers

Heavy rainfall also created risks for motorists. NWS safety recommendations included:

Reducing speed and keeping extra distance between vehicles
Driving in middle lanes to avoid hydroplaning
Turning on headlights for better visibility
Avoiding culverts, ditches, or low-lying areas prone to flooding

Officials reminded drivers that the first 30 minutes of rainfall are the slickest, as oil and grime mix with water on road surfaces.

Visitors Urged to Stay Alert

The thunderstorm alert expired at 4:45 p.m., but forecasters warned that storms may intensify. Park visitors were advised to monitor weather radios, television broadcasts, and NWS Hanford updates throughout the evening.

Have you ever been caught in severe weather while visiting Yosemite or another national park? Share your stories in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.

Saluda Standard Sentinel Team

The Saluda Standard-Sentinel Team represents the collective voice of our newsroom — covering urgent updates, official notices, and stories compiled by multiple reporters. Rooted in the South and committed to trusted local journalism, our team brings timely, community-first reporting to readers across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.