Knoxville, Tennessee – Wind gusts up to 45 mph will sweep through the Smoky Mountains overnight, peaking before sunrise Friday and creating hazardous travel in higher elevations.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, a Wind Advisory remains in effect from 7 p.m. tonight until 1 p.m. EST Friday for Johnson, Unicoi and southeast Greene counties, along with the Blount, Cocke and Sevier Smoky Mountains and southeast Carter and Monroe counties. Southwest winds of 15 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching 45 mph. The strongest winds are most likely between midnight and 8 a.m. Friday.
Communities including Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, Mountain City, Erwin and Elkmont could see tree limbs knocked down and isolated power outages. Higher ridgelines and gaps will experience the strongest gusts, while sheltered valleys may see slightly lower speeds.
Drivers along U.S. 441 through the Smokies and other mountain routes should prepare for strong crosswinds, especially high-profile vehicles. Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor objects before winds increase this evening.
Winds will gradually weaken after late Friday morning, but the advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. EST.
