April 11, 2024

UPDATE:
US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) has been reopened and the High Wind Warning has expired early. Gusty conditions, up to 55mph, will persist into tomorrow though, and storms are still active in the vicinity. Cherokee Orchard and Roaring are also still open.

---

Good Morning,

As predicted, the weather has us rolling and rocking this week. Isolated thunderstorms moved in during the night and will be an on/off presence throughout today. Winds also continued to escalate, in which we are currently under a High Wind Warning expecting gusts upwards of 75mph over the mountain today. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) remains temporarily closed, but Cherokee Orchard and Roaring Fork remain open. Since these strong winds are coming out of the south, the accessible trails navigating the north slopes of Mt. LeConte could offer some reprieve from any gusts. Depending on how a few storm cells strike, there is potential for heavy rain at times. Best to get after it early today to avoid any significant buildup of runoff in area creeks. Temps will otherwise be mild up top today, approaching the 50s this afternoon, but the thermometer is going to slide down a bit tonight. Whether we get close enough to the freezing mark for any lingering rain to transition from sleet to snow flakes will be a wait-and-see scenario. That of course adds an entirely different wrinkle into the temporary closure of roads between now and the weekend. So stay tuned and pick your marks wisely today!