The clouds are holding tight to the mountain top this Sunday. Winds are light and temps are somewhat cool starting in the mid 50s, but the thermometer will have no problem rising up into the 60s later. Scattered thunderstorms and rain showers will resume this afternoon and evening. Independence Day looks like it’s going to be a soaker, with isolated storms expected to roll through all day. Some heavy rainfall is also anticipated, in which the mountain could receive several inches depending on where the strongest cells strike. That means soaking wet trails and potentially higher creek crossings where footbridges are absent. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph at times with some storms.
Hopefully hikers do a much better job of coming prepared for the weather the remaining holiday weekend. Rain jackets are wise investments, and our forecast is not the same as Gatlinburg’s, as some people continue to discover the hard way. We’re separated by several miles and are thousands of feet higher into the atmosphere. And a reminder that our operating hours are visible on our websites in multiple locations. Hikers are solely responsible for doing their research and planning accordingly before making the climb.
Stay dry and have a great day.
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