First Big Snow of Winter in Pigeon Forge
The first large snow of the winter blanketed the Great Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge with gleaming white caps, but also forced closure of the Newfound Gap Road, halting travel across the mountains from Tennessee to North Carolina. Park officials closed the road when snow and ice became too hazardous to allow even four-wheel drive vehicles attempt the pass. The Little River Road was also closed to motorists.
Anticipated snowfall was serious enough that forecasters issued a heavy snow warning and predicted 2 to 5 inches would fall in the high elevations along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Snow accumulated at elevations above 3,000 feet in the national park. Gatlinburg, the closest city to the national park, is only 1,600 feet above sea level, while Pigeon Forge is 1,010 feet above sea level. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg schools were closed Tuesday as a precaution.
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort welcomed the snow. The resort’s ski report reports a base of 14-22 inches on Ski Mountain just outside of the national park. For a live view of snow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit one of the National Park Service’s live web cams. One is at Purchase Knob in North Carolina, and the other is at Look Rock near Cades Cove in Tennessee.
Do you like snow? For many of us living in the South, snow is a rare treat. In Pigeon Forge, snow that accumulates melts quickly. For many Northerners, snow is just an ordinary part of everyday life. But snow in the mountains is extraordinary and incredibly beautiful. If you’re lucky enough to be in the Pigeon Forge area when snow comes to East Tennessee, you will never forget the beauty of a genuine winter wonderland.