News Release

Update: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Prepare for Forecasted Atmospheric River to Begin Thursday

Date: March 8, 2023
Contact: Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, [phone]

Park managers are now planning to close the Kings Canyon National Park entrance tomorrow, Thursday March 9, at 6 p.m. PST, in addition to the previously announced planned closure of the Sequoia National Park entrance at the same time. This is due to the forecasted atmospheric river storm, which is predicted to bring extremely heavy rain beginning tomorrow evening.  

These closures are being put in place to protect public and employee safety. Heavy rain is expected at elevations where there is currently as much as 12 feet of snow on the ground. There is major potential for flooding and serious road and infrastructure damage, in the parks as well as the surrounding communities. We urge the public to act with an abundance of caution if you will be in or must travel through affected areas during the upcoming weather event.  

Additional updates, including timeframes for reopening, will be issued as information becomes available. For current conditions, visit go.nps.gov/SEKIconditions. Follow the developing weather predictions at https://www.weather.gov/. For road conditions outside the parks check https://roads.dot.ca.gov/.  

-NPS- 

About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 

These two parks, which lie-side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, serve as a prime example of nature’s size, beauty, and diversity. Nearly 2 million visitors from across the U.S. and the world visit these parks for the world’s largest trees (by volume), grand mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, the highest point in the lower 48 states, and more. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/seki