Yosemite's spectacular 'firefall' looks like a no-show this year

"Firefall" at Yosemite National Park "Firefall" at Yosemite National Park Photo: Yajnesh Bhat, Getty Images Photo: Yajnesh Bhat, Getty Images Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Yosemite's spectacular 'firefall' looks like a no-show this year 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A dry spell has turned Yosemite's Horsetail Fall into a trickle, leaving the national park's annual "firefall" light show very much in doubt.

Every year in mid-to-late February, if conditions are right, the small waterfall east of El Capitan glows a brilliant red-orange as light from the setting sun strikes the cascading water. The effect draws thousands of spectators and photographers to Yosemite Valley.

Unfortunately, this year the conditions are far from optimal. January and February have been mostly storm-free, with only few light snowfalls. Consequently, Yosemite's smaller waterfalls are drying up.

"Horsetail Fall has little to no water," the Yosemite National Park website says. No waterfall means no firefall.

The event could still happen if there's significant rain or snow soon, but that seems unlikely. The 10-day forecast for Yosemite calls for sunny, mostly sunny or partly cloudy weather. No day has more than a 20 percent chance of precipitation.

And of course, even if there were precipitation, cloud cover would prevent the firefall effect. The skies would have to clear after the storm.

This year the window for the firefall is Feb. 12 through Feb. 28, with the optimum time lasting about 12 minutes at sunset on Feb. 22.

During the 16 days, the park is closing all pedestrian access to Southside Drive from El Capitan Crossover to the Swinging Bridge picnic area, including the entire area between the road and the Merced River. The only valley spot where photographers can still set up their tripods is the El Capitan picnic area on Northside Drive.

RELATED: Yosemite just made it harder to photograph the Horsetail 'firefall'

The changes are aimed at protecting areas that have been getting too much foot traffic in previous years and to make sure valley roads are not clogged with pedestrians.

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Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate