Near Record Heat Hits Tennessee as Great Smoky Mountains Wildfire Expands

Meteorologists are warning of near-record heat in Tennessee as a wildfire burning in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains has expanded to 10 acres.
The Flint Gap Fire ignited near Hannah Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Monday evening, according to a press release from the National Park Service published on Wednesday. The most recent update from the NPS estimates the fire to be around 10 acres, although the size was confirmed on Tuesday at noon and it’s possible the blaze has since expanded.
Newsweek reached out to the NPS by email for comment.
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Along with the growing fire, dangerously hot conditions will be present across much of eastern Tennessee on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Meteorologists issued a hazardous weather outlook for eastern Tennessee, southwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia because of the heat.
“Near record heat is expected this afternoon with widespread temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. Practice heat safety by staying hydrated and limiting time outdoors during the hottest hours of the afternoon,” the NWS office in Morristown, Tennessee, said in the outlook.
Heat will continue into Thursday and Friday, with temperatures peaking in the upper 90s.
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“Thursday will be the hottest day, with temperatures around 100 degrees in the southern TN valley,” the outlook said.
NWS meteorologist Nathan Wellington told Newsweek that temperatures should start to return to normal this weekend.
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He said that although hot temperatures don’t usually help wildfires, it is early in Tennessee’s wildfire season, meaning that longer-term fuels such as trees haven’t dried out yet.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of eastern Tennessee is free from drought. Much of the state’s drought is concentrated in the west-central part of the state. Roughly 4 percent of Tennessee is battling severe drought.
Drought is expanding, as last week’s Drought Monitor showed that no part of the state was struggling with severe drought. More than 23 percent of Tennessee is classified as having moderate drought, with more than half of the state experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
An air quality alert has been issued in the eastern Tennessee area, advising people sensitive to poor air quality—such as those with asthma—to limit outdoor exposure.
In its update, the NPS said no structures are threatened by the flames, although several closures have been implemented because of potential fire danger. Closures are in place at backcountry campsites 14, 15 and 16; Parson Branch Road; Rabbit Creek Trail from Abrams Creek to Cades Cove; and Hannah Mountain Trail from Parson Branch Road to Little Bottom Trail.
As of Wednesday, the Tennessee National Guard was conducting bucket drops to help fight the flames.