ASHEVILLE – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed most park roads as well as Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds, after the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook and red flag warning due to high fire risk caused by strong winds and hurricane-force gusts.
Meanwhile, crews are battling a wildfire that broke out the evening of Nov. 20 in the Tennessee side of the park that has expanded to about 6 acres.
Winds across the higher elevations and foothills could reach up to 50 mph on the afternoon of Nov. 20, according to the weather service. Gusts are expected to increase to between 40 and 70 mph at night, with up to 80 mph gusts possible in some locations. A red flag warning is in effect for the Smokies, which means very low humidity and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger
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