Yosemite Warns Visitors About "Summer Branch Drop" Hazard

Visitors to Yosemite National Park are routinely warned about the dangers presented by the wildlife that call this natural wonder home. Now park officials are warning travelers about a new hazard in the park. Read on for all of the details.

Rising Temperatures Raising Risk of Summer Branch Drop at Yosemite

Temperatures are soaring across California's Yosemite National Park, triggering a different type of danger. The heat is now causing tree branches to suddenly snap and fall to the ground. Known as the "Summer Branch Drop," the sudden and unexpected nature of these types of events catches visitors off guard.

In a recent social media post, park officials explained that the Summer Branch Drop is "a seasonal occurrence when a seemingly healthy tree suddenly loses a limb, oftentimes without warning." The drop is most common among the black oak trees that dot the landscape of the park in the northern part of the Golden State.