Yosemite's famous glowing orange 'firefall' could be a bust this year
The famed "firefall" phenomenon at California’s Yosemite National Park is expected to make its yearly appearance this weekend. But a lack of rain and water could spoil the spectacle.
In mid-February each year, the sun hits the Horsetail waterfall at just the right angle to create an illusion that looks like lava or fire flowing off the side of the cliff instead of water.
The firefall lasts only a few minutes shortly before sunset and draws hundreds of visitors hoping to capture an out-of-this-world shot.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but it's really iffy because you never know (whether it will happen)," Reno DiTullio, a photographer visiting Yosemite, told AccuWeather.
"On rare occasions during mid- to late February, it can glow orange when it's backlit by the sunset," the National Park Service says. "This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing. Even some haze or minor cloudiness can greatly diminish or eliminate the effect."
The Horsetail Fall is a seasonal waterfall that flows only in the late winter and early spring.
This year, according to AccuWeather, the setting sun is expected to be at the best angle for the firefall from Friday to Sunday.
But one key element may be missing: water. "The problem is you can't have a firefall without a spark or, in this case, the water, and it just hasn't rained or snowed enough so far this year here in Yosemite," AccuWeather news reporter Jonathan Petramala said.
Planning a National Park visit in 2020? You can get in free on these days
Indeed, the portion of California in which Yosemite is located is now in a "moderate" drought, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor.
Historically, the sunset backlight effect on Horsetail Fall was little known, the National Park Service says. But in recent years, the number of visitors on hand to watch the spectacle has increased dramatically, which has caused the park service to limit the number of cars and visitors to the site.
Last year, "on February 22, 2019, over 2,000 visitors viewing Horsetail Fall gathered in areas mostly lacking adequate parking and other facilities. Visitors spilled onto riverbanks, increasing erosion and trampling vegetation," the park service said.
"As riverbanks filled, visitors moved into the Merced River, trampling sensitive vegetation and exposing themselves to unsafe conditions. Some undeveloped areas became littered with trash, and the lack of restrooms resulted in unsanitary conditions," according to the park service.
But this year, with no precipitation in the forecast, the famed firefall may be on hiatus, likely limiting crowds, AccuWeather said.
Contributing: Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yosemite National Park firefall: Weather may spoil 2020 waterfall
