Hiking and driving options are limited in Yosemite in the wintertime, but the crowds are much smaller. From December to February, only 9 percent of the park’s 5 million-plus annual visitors show up, according to park visitation statistics. Yosemite’s winter weather can be cold, especially at the higher elevations. The Yosemite Valley is at 4,000 feet elevation and even if it snows. The Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area is at Badger Pass. It includes a terrain park along with beginner and intermediate slopes, making it a good place for kids and others just learning to ski.

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Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic spark accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms. A leader of a bolt of lightning can travel at speeds of 220,000 km/h (140,000 mph). Lightning is extremely hot. A flash can heat the air around it to temperatures about 30,000 °C (54,000 °F). it is dangerous. About 2,000 people are killed worldwide by lightning each year.

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