Some exceptional weather is in store for visitors to the Smokies this penultimate weekend of August. Whether your plan is to hit the trails for an outdoor ramble, or join in on the Jeep Invasion action set to cruise gateway communities and serpentine scenic parkways, the sunshine should certainly add to the enjoyment. Between the superb forecast, surge in motor vehicles, temporary road closures funneling visitors to select entrances, and the expected bear sightings, count on heavily congested roadways in and around the national park these next few days. Early starts will go a long way in avoiding some of those potential traffic-related headaches if sitting idly is not your cup of tea (or hot chocolate at our elevation). Please respect the park’s natural resources and fellow visitor safety should you come upon halted traffic admiring a family of bears or a bustling trailhead where permitted spaces can be difficult to come by during peak hours.
Even as we wake up to a misting fog this morning more than a mile high above the East TN valley, sunny skies are expected today and the foreseeable future. Such superb skies will also be accompanied by a gradual warming trend as we climb out from this recent “false fall” cellar. From now until the middle of next week, we should witness lodge high/low temps ease upward from the low 60s/upper 40s to mid 70s/upper 50s. Any winds will be light and a nice relief to the returning heat and humidity, particularly among the mountain’s lower elevations. Trails should be good and dry now. Be sure and pack the helpful hydration, sufficient snacks, and sizzling sun protection for spending prolonged periods in the backcountry.
Have a great day.
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