![Tioga pass was looking like this until last week when an 18" storm hit. Another big storm is hitting Tioga right now.](http://snowbrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tioga-pass-gateway-to-yosemite-leeann-mclane-goetz-620x421.jpg)
9,943′ Tioga Pass & 9,624′ Sonora Pass in California have both closed today for the second time since they officially opened for the summer on April 17th. ย That April 17th opening of the two passes was one of the earliest pass openings in history due to this being the lowest snowfall winter on record.
![Sonora pass. Not this year, though.](http://snowbrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SonoraPass-620x349.jpg)
Tioga and Sonora passes are closed due to a large snowstorm from the Gulf of Alaska that is hitting California today. ย That storm is forecast to continue to snow on the passes through tomorrow.
![Tioga Pass signage.](http://snowbrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tioga-pass-sign-and-explanation-620x465.jpg)
Both Tioga and Sonora passes closed last week for three days due to a big snowstorm that hit and dropped 18″ of snow on Mammoth, CA.
We have a friend who was up on Sonora pass this past Tuesday and he reported decent coverage but hard snow due to the new 18″ of snow there having melted then frozen.