Officials at the Yosemite National Park said on March 9 that the park had extended its closure through at least March 16 due to extreme weather and a second storm system forecast for the west coast.

Officials said the park, which has been closed to the public since February 25, said a partial reopening could occur on March 17, but called it a “best-case scenario”.

The LA Times reported parts of the national park accumulated record-breaking snow, with snow up to 15 feet deep in some areas, on February 28.

This footage posted by the Yosemite National Park on March 9 on Facebook, shows snow ploughs at work in the Curry Village area on March 6 and 7.

“Conditions will be evaluated on a daily basis and the park will provide an update late next week. As park crews continue snow removal operations and flood preparation, employee safety remains the top priority. We have received significant snowfall over the last several weeks. National Park Service and partner crews are working hard to reopen as soon as it is safe”, the park service said in the post.

The closure comes as Californians across the state struggle with the extreme snowy weather. According to the office of the Governor of California, 21 additional counties were added to the State of Emergency triggered by recent storms. Credit: Yosemite National Park via Storyful

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