GATLINBURG, Tenn. — UPDATE (10/28/19): All roads are open again after high winds and downed trees closed many paths going through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the weekend.
UPDATE (10/27/19 at 5:50 p.m.): The Gatlinburg Bypass has reopened after high winds and downed trees shut down many roadways in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday.
Cades Cove Loop Road and Laurel Creek Road remain closed.
UPDATE (10/27/19 at 12 p.m.): The Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened some roads that were closed Saturday because of high winds and downed trees.
Newfound Gap Road and Little River Road reopened Sunday afternoon.
Other roads, including the Gatlinburg Bypass, Cades Cove Loop Road and Laurel Creek Road, remained closed as of noon Sunday.
ORIGINAL STORY (10/26/19): The Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced high winds Saturday morning with sustained winds of approximately 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph across the Tennessee side of the mountains.
Newfound Gap Road, Laurel Creek Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road are all currently closed due to downed trees. The Gatlinburg Bypass also closed due to high wind. Winds are expected to grow stronger Saturday evening with a High Wind Warning in effect until 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.
All roadways will remain closed until the warning has expired. At that time, crews will assess damage and begin clearing roads for reopening.
In a Facebook post, LeConte Lodge also posted on Facebook about the high winds:
It’s getting pretty windy here at 6593’!
US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC is temporarily closed due to high winds and downed trees. This closure will remain in effect for the duration of the High Wind Warning, currently thru 5:00 AM Sunday. At that time Park crews will assess and work promptly to reopen any affected roadways.