Gatlinburg, Tennessee – Gusty winds reaching 50 mph and bursts of snow are creating slick mountain roads across the Smokies Monday night, raising concerns for late-evening travelers through early Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 2 a.m. EDT Tuesday for higher elevations of east Tennessee and parts of southwest Virginia. Snowfall totals could reach up to 2 inches in the Smoky Mountains, while wind gusts approaching 50 mph may bring down small tree limbs and blow snow across roadways.
Communities including Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, Erwin, Unicoi, Mountain City, and Coker Creek could see rapidly changing road conditions. Mountain routes such as U.S. 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and State Route 143 toward Roan Mountain are especially vulnerable to slick spots and reduced visibility overnight.
Farther north in Lee, Russell, and Washington counties in Virginia, snowfall totals may reach around 1 inch with wind gusts up to 35 mph, affecting travel near Bristol, Abingdon, and Lebanon.
Officials urge drivers to slow down, increase following distance, and check Tennessee and Virginia 511 systems for road updates before traveling. Conditions are expected to gradually improve after 2 a.m. Tuesday as snowfall tapers, though isolated icy spots may linger on higher-elevation roads into early morning.
