Snow shuts down the Smokies!

Snow shuts down the Smokies!

Monday, January 10, 2011

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Snow continues to pile up in the Great Smoky Mountains - with up to an additional foot on the way. More than two feet of snow is already on the ground atop Mt. LeConte. In addition to every road being closed right now, the park has issued this statement on its website:

Due to a winter storm, park facilities, including visitor centers, will be closed until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 10.

The National Weather Service is calling for more snow for the region for today and tonight, which will likely keep most roads in the park closed through at least Tuesday. Here's the latest forecast:

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST TUESDAY.

* TIMING: A STEADY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT...AND MAY MIX WITH SLEET THIS AFTERNOON. BY TONIGHT...THIS PRECIPITATION MAY ALSO MIX WITH FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE BY TONIGHT...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ACROSS THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS. IN ADDITION...LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT.

The timing of these storms is likely having a large negative impact on Wilderness Wildlife Week, which began this past Saturday. Obviously most of the hikes have been cancelled as a result of all the road closings.


Simply Beautiful:

Yes the fall colors and the wildflowers of the Smokies are beautiful, but snow turns the mountains into an enchanted wonderland. Check out this short video taken by the winter caretaker of the LeConte Lodge:



You can also check out some of the amazing winter scenes that have been recently posted on the High on LeConte website by clicking here.

Here are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road (the access road to Cades Cove)
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Gatlinburg Bypass
• Foothills Parkway West
• Foothills Parkway East
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Cherokee Orchard Road
• Greenbrier Road
• Lakeview Road
• Toms Branch Road
• Wear Cove Road
• Tremont Road
• Cosby Campground Entrance Road

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, click here or call the park office at (865) 436-1200.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Most roads closed in Smokies: More snow on the way

Most roads closed in Smokies: More snow on the way

Saturday, January 8, 2011

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The snow from last night and in recent days has closed almost every road in the Great Smoky Mountains this morning. The winter caretaker atop Mt. LeConte is reporting 7 new inches of snow, making a total of 15 inches on the ground right now.

The National Weather Service is calling for more snow over the next several days, which will likely keep most roads closed during this time period. Here's the latest forecast:

ACCUMULATIONS...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ALONG THE HIGHEST RIDGE TOPS NEAR THE TENNESSEE BORDER ARE EXPECTED TODAY...WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES IN SURROUNDING AREAS. THE MAJOR SNOW STORM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT COULD PRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOWFALL.

Here are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• The Gatlinburg By-Pass
• Cherokee Orchard Road at Twin Creeks Science Center
• Greenbrier Entrance Road
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Toms Branch Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Lakeshore Drive
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Tremont Road
• Wears Cove Road
• Foothills Parkway (east and west)

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, click here or call the park office at (865) 436-1200.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Snow closes most roads in Smokies

Snow closes most roads in Smokies

Monday, December 27, 2010

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The winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in the higher elevations of the Smokies has forced the closure of most of the roads in the park. The following are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove
• The Gatlinburg By-Pass
• Cherokee Orchard Road at the Park Boundary
• Greenbrier Entrance Road
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Toms Branch Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Lakeshore Drive
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee

As of 7:30 this morning the National Weather Service website is reporting 15 inches of snow on the ground at Mt. LeConte, 10 inches at both the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers, and 9 inches in Cades Cove. You can view a couple of photos from Mt. LeConte from the lodge blogsite.

If you prefer warmer weather, help is definitely on the way! Temps are supposed to hit 60 degrees in Gatlinburg this coming Saturday.

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, click here or call the park office at (865) 436-1200.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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A Touch of Snow in the Great Smoky Mountains

A Touch of Snow in the Great Smoky Mountains

Monday, December 20, 2010

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A Touch of Snow in the Great Smoky Mountains is the latest video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. If you haven't had a chance to make it to the Smokies in the last couple of weeks to see some of the beautiful winter scenes, this video provides a quick look at some of the falling snow near Maloney Overlook on Little River Road:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Almost all roads in Smokies still closed

Almost all roads in Smokies still closed

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

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The winter storm that passed through the Smokies over the weekend still has most of the roads in the park closed as of this morning.

Here are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441) is open ONLY to vehicles with 4WD or chains.
• Little River Road
• Foothills Parkway East (Cosby to I-40)
• Foothills Parkway West
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Cherokee Orchard Road above Twin Creeks Science Center
• Wear Cove Road
• Lakeview Road
• Upper Tremont Road
• Toms Branch Road
• Greenbrier Road
• Cosby Campground Entrance Road
• Foothills Parkway (unfinished section) - the 4 mile section from the gate at US-321 in Wears Valley that is normally closed to motor vehicles is now closed to all use until January 2012. The Walland end of the road will be closed to all public use begining Dec. 16, 2010.

As of 7:30 this morning the National Weather Service website is reporting 20 inches of snow on the ground at Mt. LeConte.

Things aren't looking much better either. The National Weather Service has posted another Winter Weather Advisory for the Smokies region that will be in effect until Thursday morning:

A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT...GENERATING A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE REGION. WITH VERY COLD AIR ALREADY IN PLACE...THE INITIAL PRECIPITATION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF LIGHT SNOW. THE LIGHT SNOW WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. AS WARMER AIR MOVES IN BEHIND THE FRONT...THE WINTRY MIX WILL SLOWLY CHANGE TO RAIN LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING.

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, click here or call the park office at (865) 436-1200.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Snow: Almost every road in Smokies closed

Snow: Almost every road in Smokies closed

Saturday, January 30, 2010

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As a result of the snow that began falling yesterday, almost every road in the Great Smoky Mountains is temporarily closed.

As of 7:30 this morning, the National Weather Service is reporting 1 inch of snow at the Sugarland Visitor Center and in Cades Cove, 2" at Oconaluftee, and 8" at Newfound Gap and atop Mt. LeConte.

Here's the full list of closings:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Foothills Parkway East
• Foothills Parkway West
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Cherokee Orchard Road
• Tremont Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Greenbrier Road at US-321
• Lakeview Road
• Gatlinburg Bypass
• Wear Cove Road
• Upper Tremont Road

Please click here for the most updated road information or you can call 865-436-1200.

The forecast for Gatlinburg calls for more snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 4 p.m. today, then a chance of snow. High near 32. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch possible. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

For the latest weather updates and forecasts for the Smokies, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Most roads closed in the Smokies

Most roads closed in the Smokies

Friday, January 8, 2010

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For the second time this week officials in the Great Smoky Mountains have temporarily shut down most of the roads in and around the park due to snow and ice this morning:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Gatlinburg Bypass
• Greenbrier Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Cherokee Orchard past Twin Creeks
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Foothills Parkway East
• Foothills Parkway West
• Lakeview Drive

As of this morning, Newfound Gap has a total of 12 inches of snow on the ground, while Mt. LeConte has 15 inches.

Click here for the most updated road information or call 865-436-1200.

The forecast for Gatlinburg calls for scattered snow showers today with a high near 21. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Scattered snow showers are expected through tomorrow night.

For the latest weather updates and forecasts for the Smokies, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Several road closures due to snow

Several road closures due to snow

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

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Officials in the Great Smoky Mountains have temporarily shut down several roads due to snow and ice, as well as downed trees this morning:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Gatlinburg Bypass
• Cherokee Orchard Road
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Foothills Parkway East

Click here for the most updated road information or call 865-436-1200.

The forecast for Gatlinburg for the remainder of the day is for partly sunny skies and cold, with a couple of flurries. High near 31. In the Smokies, 2-5 inches of total snow accumulations are expected this morning - mainly in the higher elevations. More snow is expected later this week, as well as extremely cold temperatures. For the latest weather updates and forecasts for the Smokies, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Snowdrifts as high as 6-8 feet deep on Blue Ridge Parkway

Snowdrifts as high as 6-8 feet deep on Blue Ridge Parkway

Thursday, December 24, 2009

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Crews on the Blue Ridge Parkway continue to work to remove snowdrifts and downed trees. The National Park Service is reporting that there are snowdrifts as high as six to eight feet deep on the Parkway!

This is the report from the National Park Service today:

The Blizzard of 2009 dumped from 10 to 30 inches of snow along the entire length of the 469-mile-long parkway. High winds, particularly in the northern districts, have created snow drifts as much as six to eight feet deep, which require the use of front-end loaders and back-hoes in conjunction with snow plow equipment to clear administrative access to park duty stations.

Numerous fallen trees are further complicating snow-removal operations. Unrestricted access to some sections of the parkway that cannot be controlled by a gated closure has further compounded the severity of this storm event because law enforcement rangers have limited ability to identify and respond to stranded motorist emergencies.

Protection rangers are working with Virginia and North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers to receive information from flyovers. The HQ and visitor center in Asheville, North Carolina, are open and the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Virginia is open via State Route 43.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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Several road closures in Smokies due to snow

Several road closures in Smokies due to snow

Saturday, December 5, 2009

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As a result of the snow and ice in the region, the following roads in the Great Smoky Mountains are now closed:

* Newfound Gap Road (US 441), Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC

* Little River Road from Gatlinburg to Townsend

* Cherokee Orchard Road in the Roaring Fork area

* Lyons Springs Road (a.k.a. Wears Gap Road)

* Foothills Parkway East, Cosby, TN to I-40

* Cataloochee Entrance Road near Maggie Valley, NC

* Old NC 284, between Big Creek, NC and Cataloochee, NC

For Gatlinburg, the forecast is for snow, mainly before 1 pm. High near 36. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

The forecast for Cherokee is for snow, mainly before 4 pm. High near 35. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible, with little or no snow accumulation expected into the evening.

You can keep up with current weather conditions and forecasts by clicking here.

For the most up-to-date road closing in the Smokies, please call (865) 436-1200.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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