Sunshine and rainbows are old news now. Wet, windy, and gloomy are going to be theme for a while. A Flood Watch has been in effect since this morning and will remain so til least 2:00 PM Friday. How does one get to that point? With a lot of water falling from the sky over a long period, that’s how! The conditions that had to align to create this “perfect storm(s)” scenario for the Smokies region is both impressive and daunting. Scattered thunderstorms yesterday afternoon and overnight produced 0.65” of precip, and we’ve already tallied another half inch this morning. So with the ground now decently saturated, any new significant rainfall is going to quickly fill up any and all low places as it seeks a way down and off the mountain. We are currently stuck in a conveyor belt of storms rolling up from the southwest, paralleling the Appalachian chain. This will be the pattern well into Thursday until finally Hurricane Helene surges up from the southeast, bringing additional heavy rain combined with strong winds. In total, our area has the potential to receive 9-14” of rainfall, with wind gusts these next couple days reaching 60mph at times across the peaks. Flooding creeks, downed trees, and landslides are all very much in the equation until we reach the weekend.
At this time, all roads and trails accessing Mt. LeConte remain open. The NPS has not instructed the Lodge to close. It’s possible any of that could change over the coming hours as the situation regarding the storms evolves, while Helene still has a great deal of ground (and Gulf) to cover before getting here early Friday. In the meantime, guests with reservations for tonight, this Thursday, or Friday interested in rescheduling their stay for a different date later THIS season should contact our Reservations Office to inquire about any vacancies.
We will provide updates regarding the weather and guidance from the NPS as we receive them. Be safe out there!
Reminder that today is your last chance to submit an online request form to be considered for a stay in 2025!
Have a great day.
Source link