Great Smoky Mountains National Park Podcasts & Blog » Weather http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog Enjoy the Smokies Courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains Association! Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:38:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Winter Rains http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/winter-rains/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/winter-rains/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:33:38 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=2284 In 2011, the Great Smoky Mountains recieved close to 100 inches of rainfall making it one of the rainiest spots in the entire United States. It was also one of the wettest years on record.

]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/winter-rains/feed/ 4 Cleaning Up the Path of Destruction http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/cleaning-up-the-path-of-destruction/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/cleaning-up-the-path-of-destruction/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:17:54 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=2130 trail work More than two months after a tornado tore it’s way through the park, trail crews are busy clearing trails. See what it takes to clean up such a mess, and have a look at the Abrams Falls Trail now that it’s reopened in this new video.



Trail closure map (June 24, 2011)


Updated trail closure map (July 14, 2011)
Now Open:
- Hannah Mountain Trail
- Rabbit Creek Trail between Abrams Creek and Hannah Mountain Trail

]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/cleaning-up-the-path-of-destruction/feed/ 1 Tornado Damage in the Park http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/tornado-damage-in-the-park/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/tornado-damage-in-the-park/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 18:49:43 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=2094 tornado damage viewed from Look Rock Even the mountains couldn’t escape the historic severe weather that occurred during the “Super Outbreak” of late April. The park has had to close several trails and portions of trails on the west end of the park during clean-up. To see some of the damage on the closed trails and the path of destruction from Look Rock tower, watch this video.


Updated trail closure map (May 31, 2011)
- Ace Gap Trail is now open.


Updated trail closure map (June 24, 2011)
Now Open:
- The entire length of Abrams Falls Trail
- The entire length of Little Bottoms Trail
- Hatcher Mountain Trail between Abrams Falls Trail and Little Bottoms Trail
]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/tornado-damage-in-the-park/feed/ 17 Dogwoods in Bloom http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/dogwoods-in-bloom/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/dogwoods-in-bloom/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 05:03:30 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=2057 dogwood Beautiful dogwood trees are common below 3,000 feet in the Smokies. With their showy white displays, they brighten up the forests during this time of year and remind us that spring is here but a short time. Get out in the park to see them right now, or take a look at this short video to enjoy the lovely dogwood while it’s in peak bloom.

]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/dogwoods-in-bloom/feed/ 2 Beautiful Snowy Monday in the Mountains http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/beautiful-snowy-monday-in-the-mountains/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/beautiful-snowy-monday-in-the-mountains/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:23:46 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=2031 Newfound Gap 3-7-11 The snow isn’t ready to go away quite yet, and Monday brought one of the most lovely and accessible snows we’ve had this winter. A morning drive on Newfound Gap Road treated visitors to a wonderland of stately trees ornately trimmed in white. And although clouds loomed around the Chimney Tops, higher on up at Newfound Gap, it was a cold, clear view past snowy treetops into layer upon layer of mountain. For those who missed out, here’s a quick video. Enjoy!

]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/beautiful-snowy-monday-in-the-mountains/feed/ 0 Daffodils Are A-bloomin’! http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/daffodils-are-a-bloomin/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/daffodils-are-a-bloomin/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:22:04 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=2026 daffodil Daffodils are blooming right now and announcing that Spring is on the way! Wherever you see these cheery blooms, it’s evidence of a former home, church, cemetery, or some other place where Smokies residents once carried on their way of life. Here’s a short glimpse to get your Spring fever going.

]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/daffodils-are-a-bloomin/feed/ 0 A Winter Postcard… Farewell to Winter! http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-winter-postcard-farewell-to-winter/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-winter-postcard-farewell-to-winter/#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:35:22 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1975 deer in the snow

golden-crowned kinglet?

I believe this is a golden-crowned kinglet.   The weather is beautiful in the park right now. You can almost feel spring in the air. And after all the snow we’ve had, we are READY! But maybe, just maybe, you haven’t had enough of winter yet? If you’d like to take a moment to reminisce about our snowy winter, this video is just for you.

And, by the way, keep a look out for both a female and male cardinal, a clever little junco, and what I believe is a golden-crowned kinglet (enlarged at left; more experienced birders, please correct me if this is wrong). They are very entertaining as they forage for berries and insects, but they sure are difficult to capture on film! Fast little critters!

Beautiful music by Bill Mize from his album The Angel’s Share.
]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-winter-postcard-farewell-to-winter/feed/ 0 A Year in the Smokies: 2010 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-year-in-the-smokies-2010/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-year-in-the-smokies-2010/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:28:33 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1887 Cataloochee   Experience another year’s worth of Smokies moments in this short film. Click here or on the photo to see it all.

Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-year-in-the-smokies-2010/feed/ 10 A Touch of Snow http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-touch-of-snow/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-touch-of-snow/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:04:07 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1882 snow fall in the forest A cold chill is in the air and temperatures are lower than we’d usually expect this early in December–highs below freezing! Snow is piling up on top of the highest mountains. Newfound Gap: 12 inches of snow, Mount Le Conte: 17 inches! Watch out for Newfound Gap Road to be closed when the snow sets in. Here’s a quick look at the falling snow viewed near Maloney Overlook on Little River Road this morning. Enjoy!

]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-touch-of-snow/feed/ 0 Fabulous Fall Color! http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/fabulous-fall-color/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/fabulous-fall-color/#comments Sat, 23 Oct 2010 05:20:10 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1851 Little River One of the most anticipated times of the year is here! Peak fall color complete with beautiful weekend weather. Get out there and enjoy it, or get a head start with this video…

Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/fabulous-fall-color/feed/ 3