UPDATE 9/27/24 (WOKI – Gatlinburg) The National Park Service continues to monitor conditions from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. While the park did not receive the forecasted peak winds overnight, the center of the tropical storm is predicted to pass over the park mid-morning today. A high wind warning remains in effect through 8 p.m. tonight. A flood watch remains in effect through this afternoon.
The park is implementing the following closures:
- Little River Road from Elkmont to the Townsend Wye & Wear Cove Gap Road (new)
- Lake View Drive (new)
- All visitor centers
- Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek campgrounds
- Newfound Gap Road/US 441
- Cades Cove Loop Road
- Rich Mountain Road
- Cataloochee Valley roads including Hwy 284
- Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga/Round Bottom/Straight Fork)
- Heintooga Ridge Road
- Big Creek Entrance Road
- Greenbrier area and roads
- Upper Tremont Road
- The Deep Creek between Indian Creek Bridge and park boundary (closed to all water activity)
The park has received over 8 inches of rain at Newfound Gap and an additional 2-4 inches are possible. Flash flooding is possible.
Risks of flooding, high winds, downed trees, landslides and power outages remain, and visitors are encouraged to reschedule their trips. Backcountry travel is not recommended due to the unpredictability of creek crossings. The park will evaluate conditions throughout the day to determine the potential for reopening some areas as weather and safety allow. No areas are expected to reopen today. Additional updates will be on the park website https://www.nps.gov/index.htm as available.
Event canceled
The Townsend Heritage and Bluegrass Festival has been canceled. It was scheduled for today and tomorrow and this marks the first time the 30-plus-year-old festival has been completely canceled. Organizers say they are deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s event but the safety of the attendees and everyone involved comes first.
Original story: Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding areas should expect road closures and event cancellations in preparation for expected weather impacts from Hurricane Helene.
GSMNP officials say some park locations have already received 4-5 inches of rainfall since Wednesday ahead of the tropical storm event with another 4-5 inches predicted on the Tennessee-side of the park through Friday.
A number of roads are now closed both in Tennessee and on the North Carolina-side of the park:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Newfound Gap Road/US Highway 441 will close Thursday at 2 p.m.
- Sugarlands, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove visitor centers will close Thursday at 3 p.m. through at least Saturday morning, weather and road conditions permitting.
- In North Carolina, Cataloochee Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga/Round Bottom/Straight Fork Road), Balsam Mountain Campground and Cataloochee Campground are closed.
- In Tennessee, Rich Mountain Road, Greenbrier Road, Upper Tremont Road and Sparks Lane are closed.
- Parson Branch Road remains closed due to Flint Gap Fire impacts.
Sevier County
- Burden Hill Road near Eastgate Road is closed due to flooding.
- New Era Road in the area of Dave and Busters is being closed due to flooding.
- River Divide Road and Sharp Hollow Road
- The gates being closed are located at the Pigeon Forge city limits at the Henderson Road Bridge
- Headrick Lead and N Clear Fork Road
- New Era Road and Apple Valley Road
- Old Valley Road and Waldens Creek Road
- Flatwood Road and Pecan Lane
- Whites School Road
In addition, all park events scheduled for Saturday, September 28 including Mountain Life Festival, Balsam Mountain Volunteer Day and Smokies Service Day are canceled.
In Townsend, impending severe weather has lead local leaders and authorities to cancel this weekend’s Townsend Heritage and Bluegrass Festival.
Coordinators with Blount Partnership, making the cancellation announcement Thursday, say they had spoken with local responders and authorities and decided to cancel the festival out of an abundance of caution.
“While we are deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s event, the safety of our attendees and everyone involved must come first,” said Blount Partnership Communications Director Jeff Muir. “With the saturated grounds and continued rainfall, we could not guarantee a safe and enjoyable environment for our festival-goers.”
The decision marks the first time the 30-plus-year-old festival has been canceled completely. The event was slated for Sept. 27 and 28.
