November 2, 2021

Good Morning,

What a way to kickoff November! Yesterday was one of the finest days East Tennessee has enjoyed this entire autumn season. Clear skies, grand views, mild temps, and beautiful color all make for a memorable time in the mountains. The pendulum is about to swing hard the opposite direction though. We have some light rain showers with overcast skies pestering the region this morning- a bit unannounced - but conditions should improve by this afternoon bringing more sunshine. It will be much cooler up top today and tonight, with high temps lucky to escape the lower 40s. A Freeze Warning has been issued for the lowlands, so count on frigid temps along the upper elevations late this evening and into tomorrow. Winds will also be a factor today, gusting as much as 25mph. Beginning tomorrow we are going to see intermittent opportunities for either rain or snow showers. And when the atmosphere is that turbulent, odds are we’ll catch some freezing rain and sleet mixed in. Continue to prepare for messy conditions in the coming days and have backup plans ready for your chosen trail of ascent, especially if the NPS is forced to temporary close any of its roads in a hurry. With the end of the season drawing near, it’s that much more important everyone takes extra precautions to have a safe and enjoyable hike.

Have a great day.