Gatlinburg, TN – The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for portions of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains, with damaging wind gusts expected to persist through 11 a.m. Thursday.
Communities including Gatlinburg, Elkmont, Cades Cove, Cedar Creek and Hartford are expected to experience south winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph, prompting concern for falling trees, downed power lines, and widespread outages.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, the warning was upgraded late Wednesday morning due to intensifying wind conditions already being observed in Blount, Cocke, Sevier, and Southeast Greene counties. The advisory went into effect just before noon Wednesday and remains active through the Thursday morning commute.
Officials warn that travel could be particularly hazardous, especially for high-profile vehicles navigating mountain roads. Residents are urged to stay indoors, remain in lower levels of their homes, and avoid windows as a safety precaution.
Utility crews across East Tennessee have been placed on standby, anticipating significant outage reports overnight. Emergency management is encouraging people to charge mobile devices, secure outdoor items, and limit non-essential travel.
The greatest risk is expected overnight into early Thursday morning. Wind strength is likely to gradually diminish after 11 a.m., but cleanup efforts may be hampered by debris and blocked roadways in the affected regions.
Updates will be issued as conditions evolve. Residents are encouraged to monitor official weather sources and local emergency alerts for the latest developments.
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