Cades Cove Loop Road and Greenbrier Road have both been closed today due to high water on numerous places from the past 30 hours of rain. Since close to 3 inches of rain has fallen in some areas creeks streams and rivers are spilling over their banks creating a mess for many on the Smoky Mountains.
There have been numerous traffic accidents in the Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge - Sevierville area and a flood watch is in effect in Newport until 7 pm as the Pigeon River is expected to create flooding issues.
To make matters worse there is a wind advisory in effect today until 4 pm tomorrow so expect that trees will fall because of the saturated ground and high winds creating more power outages and telephone and internet service interruptions.
The Great Smoky Mountains national park is faring better than expected as other roads in the park have not been closed yet and though all the branches, creeks, streams and rivers are flooding they are yet to create any property or safety issues other than for those who will kayak or attempt to cross them in the dangerous state.
While it is possible that Cades Cove Loop Road may reopen today if the high waters recede, it is doubtful that Hyatt Lane, Sparks Lane, Forge Creek Road and Parsons Branch Road will open right away as vehicles driving over these gravel roads when they are saturated do serious damage to the roadway.
Greenbrier Road is closed right now and may reopen today, but the section of roadway to the Ramsey Cascades parking area will take at least a day before the water recedes enough for it to reopen.
It just seems like a few years ago the area was threathened by drought!
ReplyDeleteAlso, as always, accurate and timely news. This is a wonderful service for people like me that leave away from the Park, but come and visit several times a year.
Thanks!
Thanks for the compliment! If you notice on the lower right hand side under "Smokies Hiker Updates" you will see far more timely updates and conversations taking place on twitter under "SmokiesHiker".
ReplyDeleteThis year has been much cooler and all of the Smokies received far more water and we have made up for much of the past 2 years water shortage although aquifers in much of the Smokies is still beneath where they should be as it takes time for water to trickle down and make its way to them.
The past 2 years drought has had a seriously detrimental effect on the fight against the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and all the water we get this year won’t bring back the thousands of dead trees.