Skies are once again open and hazy this morning as we all wake up to welcome the holiday weekend. It’s already warm up top as the scattered showers yesterday did little to dissuade our overnight temps from dropping very much. We expect to see the mercury slide from the mid 50s this morning to the upper 60s this afternoon. Visitors are encouraged to hit the trails early today to avoid having to deal with any of the wet conditions that should flare up after lunch time. The rain percentages increase tonight and for much of Sunday at our elevation as well. Best to enjoy the outdoors while things are dry then head down before skies turn sour if you are a day hiker. And given that it’s the first big Saturday of college football, one would expect a lot of folks eager to get back down to be in earshot of a TV or radio to cheer on their favorite team.
It’s the last day of August, which means noting a few important things:
*The sun is offering us 13 hours of daylight currently, which will continue to decrease rapidly between now and the end of the season. Meal times will remain the same until late September when we’ll move up guest supper so folks have ample time to enjoy a warm meal and still catch sunset at Cliff Tops. Breakfast service remains unchanged throughout.
*In September, we can still witness some hot days across East TN, but this is when the humidity finally begins to ease off and even the views of the distant horizons regain some clarity. Nights up top get a tad cooler on average, so throwing that extra layer back into the gear stash is wise.
*We’re officially halfway through hurricane season, which thankfully
it’s been a quiet one here thus far. But these next two months have produced some dandies in recent years, so best not take our eyes off what’s happening in the tropics. Every so often, a cyclone builds enough strength and stamina that it reaches good ole southern Appalachia, bringing significant rain and wind that at times has caused temporary closures within the Smokies. Fingers crossed nothing of the sort happens.
*Before the first big wave of leaves transform from their uniform greens to vivid variations along the color spectrum, berries will continue to ripen and tree nuts take shape and harden. That means plenty of foraging and activity for the native wildlife. Remember to keep safe distances, respect the space of animals both large and small, and report any suspicious behavior to local authorities.
Have a great day.
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