1997 Merced River flood

[4] The last week in 1996, an unusually warm rain began to fall on the snow-packed mountains above Sacramento.

The rain and melted snow overflowed small creeks and eventually the large Merced River, which flows through Yosemite Valley.

Stranded New Years' vacationers were finally able to begin leaving Yosemite Valley on January 3, as the worst of the flooding was over, though the drive out of the park still saw many cars partially submerged in water.

Trash cans, picnic tables, bearproof storage boxes, and fire grates floated down the river.

[1] Damage assessment was delayed considerably due to a cold front and subsequent snowstorm that brought frozen precipitation back to the Valley on January 5.