June 27, 2025

Oh, the sights and sounds of summer in the mountains.

A soft breeze rustling lush leaves, a subtle rumble of thunder reverberating through distant valleys, occasionally broken by the chaotic yet mystifying birdsong of a winter wren. All so magical to the human senses…well, unless those distant rumbles you’ve been passing off as no concern suddenly and bombastically find their way to your locale. Such has been the case in several instances today! Some storms have narrowly missed Mt. LeConte and its approach trails, while others have squarely hit their mark…loud and proud, wet being a sure bet. While giving a whole new meaning to “pop-up” storms, there’s an impressiveness to watching clouds start from so little then rapidly burst forth in size, easily dwarfing the mountain peaks below them. Hikers often hasten their feet to the summit of Mt. LeConte in an attempt to feel tall and accomplished, but Earth and its many mighty forces can quickly remind a person of their comparative diminutiveness.

It would seem we are over the hump for this past week’s heat wave. A change in the winds and a decent dose of precip will have average temps easing back a tad leading into the weekend. Granted, it will still feel plenty hot and humid to the average outdoor enthusiast, just maybe not as oppressive at all hours of the day. Pleasant mornings followed by afternoon possibilities for storms will continue being the norm these next couple days. Temps up top will range from 50s to 60s. Then just like that, another June will have come and gone as quick as the flash of a lightning bolt flickering across a southern Appalachian sky…