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A strong storm that passed through the Smoky Mountains overnight knocked over several trees, resulting in a couple of road closings.
Laurel Creek Road, between Townsend and Cades Cove, and Wears Cove Road between Wears Valley and the Metcalf Bottoms area, are both closed to all traffic right now.
It's possible both could open early this morning, however, there is a high wind warning for the Smokies that could complicate or delay clean-up efforts. According to the Weather Service:
A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.
* WINDS: STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FOOTHILLS. WIND GUSTS UP TO 80 OR 90 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN A FEW AREAS OF THE FOOTHILLS.
To stay on top of the current weather and forecasts for the Smokies, please click here.
For the latest road closures in the park, click here, or call (865) 436-1200.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Here’s a list of the rockslides/landslides (that I’m aware of) that have occurred in the region since last fall:
If you plan on hiking this trail in the next few weeks or months, you should expect to see a lot of downed trees and downed rhododendron on the trail. Based on the fact that most of the fallen rhododendron still had green leaves on them, I would say it's likely they fell during the recent snowstorm.
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