September 24, 2024

⚠️A Flood Watch is scheduled for our area, in effect from 11:00 AM Wednesday - 2:00 PM Friday. The Smokies are in the crosshairs of a storm-filled one-two punch these next few days. Severe storms will be moving across the state tonight and tomorrow, bringing heavy rain, lightning, and hail potential. Then Thursday and Friday, Hurricane Helene will be pushing up from the south bringing more rain and strong winds.

Guests with reservations for Wednesday 9/25 should consider hitting the trails early to get out in front of the worst of the storm.

At this time, all roads and trails remain open in the park. We will provide updates at any point we receive them.

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Good Morning,

Summer keeps hanging on, as it’s set to be warm and humid again today across all elevations. It’s breezy at the lodge, so that will assist with cooling down after making the climb. We’ll see temps in the 60s for one more day at least, but the rest of the week shows solid 50s. Although skies started out sunny this morning, clouds are already blowing in and getting thicker by the hour. Wet and windy is going to be the norm here on through the weekend. Careful attention to the forecast and what gear to pack is paramount this week!

Beginning today, a typical pattern of scattered storms from the west will keep moving across the region with regularity now thru Wednesday. Sometime on Thursday, those winds will shift from the south and east as Hurricane Helene makes landfall and curls toward the Smokies, impacting our area that afternoon and deep into Friday. Its current forecast cone shows the eye passing just to our west, which lines up Mt. LeConte for the strongest winds and heaviest rains. Current predictions show 60mph winds at our elevation. Between now and then there will certainly be some changes to its track and strength, but we can all expect to see soggy trails and swollen creeks if we get a consistent dose of precip over the coming days. If we receive any insight from the NPS regarding road and trail conditions, we will obviously share that information ASAP. Guests with reservations later this week need to be making plans and having contingencies in place now for getting to and from trailheads and what to pack.

​Have a great day.