The water above Nevada Fall in Yosemite can move quite fast , but the exact speed varies a lot with season and snowmelt. A useful public reference says the Merced River near Yosemite can be around 1,600 cubic feet per second during high flow, and that water can be moving at more than 10 mph in those conditions.

What that means

  • In peak runoff , the flow can be strong and hazardous, with fast-moving river water.
  • Near the falls, the current speed depends on the river’s discharge, channel shape, and recent weather, so there is no single fixed speed.
  • During lower-flow periods, the water can be much slower and the falls look less dramatic.

Simple estimate

If you want a rough on-the-ground answer, think “several miles per hour at times, and sometimes over 10 mph during high water” rather than one exact number. That’s especially true in spring and early summer when Yosemite’s waterfalls are fed by snowmelt.

Context

Nevada Fall is one of the Yosemite waterfalls that flows year-round, but its appearance changes a lot through the year. The Merced River feeds the waterfall system, so river flow is the best clue for how fast the water is likely moving.

TL;DR: Above Nevada Fall, the water is often moving fast enough to be dangerous, and during high flow it has been described as moving more than 10 mph.