May storm brings welcome rain, snow to Yosemite National Park

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KFSN) -- Thursday's storm dumped rain and snow throughout Yosemite National Park.

Ruth O'Connell is bundled up in Yosemite. It's a little cold, but she says it's not bad.

"Dress in layers and you're OK; you're ready to go," said O'Connell.

She's stretching her legs at a lookout near hints of snow and rushing water.

"Just beautiful; it's gorgeous," said O'Connell.

Higher up, it looks like winter. It feels like it too, but it's the second week of May.

Tourists Action News talked with are taking all the snow in, calling it a gift because it's not going to last.

"It's heavenly; this is totally heavenly," said Judy Ghormley.

Ghormley is here to heal. She's a cancer survivor, hoping to regain her spirit in a place that could use some healing itself, where drought wounds are temporarily hidden in snow.

"I hope this helps the drought because it's very sad about the drought, and to see my beautiful Yosemite having problems," said Ghormley.

Fifteen minutes away at the park's famous Tunnel View, there's no snow, but there are people -- many talking about the storm and the drive up here.

"It was great going through the grapevine. All of a sudden it got real dark, a lot of rain, heavy rain and it sounded like hail," said Audra Patel.

For Arianna Patel, the snow was the best part -- even though she's seen it before.

"Yeah, we just never seen it fall from the sky," she said.

It's a memory she'll hold on to long after the snow melts and the seasons change.