After warm weather followed by heavy rain, Yosemite Valley was innundated with snow-melted water on May 15. The sun came out on the morning of May 16. The Merced River, which runs through Yosemite Valley, became Yosemite Lake. The water here appears placid because it is so spread out, but the main body of the river was moving with some force. Thundering Yosemite Falls appears in the background and in reflection.

I have been in Yosemite Valley the last three times it saw major flooding. The first was the May, 1996 flood, and I was in the Valley the day it flooded on January 1, 1997 (we had two hours to spare before we would have been trapped for the next few days). This is the one flood I've been able to enjoy and photograph.