Floods of 1996 and 1997
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Floods in Yosemite Valley aren't uncommon during spring runoff, when the Merced River swells with melted snow and overflows into meadows. The largest, least common floods occur during winter--most recently in January 1997. See what Yosemite Valley looked like during the floods of May 1996 and January 1997. (6 minutes) You can also download a Quicktime version of this movie: [24 MB].
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Did You Know?
Natural fires in Yosemite are often no more than a single burning snag (standing dead tree) or a slow moving, low intensity fire that cleans underbrush from the forest floor. These fires prevent unwanted fires by removing accumulating forest debris that can fuel a larger fire in hot, dry conditions.