Weather Alert (updated): MAJOR WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE REGION THIS WEEKEND

The Great Smoky Mountains just announced that US Hwy 441/Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC will close tonight at 10 pm due to forecast ice and snow. The Blue Ridge Parkway posted this tweet: In preparation of Winter Storm Diego, Parkway Officials anticipate road and facility closures to begin Saturday afternoon. To check the current road status access the real-time road map. http://go.nps.gov/realtimeroadmap

Here's the updated weather forecast for the Smoky Mountains region as of late Friday afternoon - The following is from the National Weather Service:

Cold high pressure along the East Coast will interact with a moist low pressure system moving out of the Gulf of Mexico Saturday night into Sunday. Moderate to heavy precipitation will fall as a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the region. Accumulations are expected to be greatest in western North Carolina. Temperatures will be cold enough across northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia for precipitation to begin as a mixture of rain, snow, and sleet in lower elevations, with mainly snow in the mountains. The best lift and moisture will arrive on Saturday night and continue through Sunday, with significant snow accumulations possible.

...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...

* WHERE...The mountains and foothills of western North Carolina, along and west of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The highest snow and sleet accumulations are expected to be at high elevations along the Escarpment. The mountains of far northwest South Carolina, and far northeast Georgia.

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Most of the precipitation will be snow. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 17 inches are expected, with accumulations increasing from south to north and as elevation increases. Ice accumulations of around a tenth of an inch are also expected.

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* WHERE...Southwest Virginia and the mountains of East Tennessee and southwest North Carolina.

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 14 inches and ice accumulations of around one quarter of an inch expected.

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* WHEN...From noon Saturday to noon EST Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could become very difficult or even impossible. Road conditions could deteriorate as early as Saturday evening, with highway travel continuing to be impacted through early next week. Widespread, prolonged power outages are possible. Tree damage is likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.

For the latest updates and forecasts, please click here.



Jeff
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