COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — Cocke County Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
The school system it is getting an early start to Thanksgiving break "out of an abundance of caution" due to the wildfire threat in the area.
A large wildfire continues to burn just south of Cocke County in North Carolina. The Black Bear Fire off I-40 has grown to 1,740 acres and is 42% contained as of Monday. Nearly 200 people have been working the fire.
A strong low-pressure system moving from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley will bring impactful weather to East Tennessee.
Winds will increase across the area through the rest of the day with peak gusts expected from midnight tonight into Tuesday afternoon.
The strongest winds will occur in the Foothills and Mountains along the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. A High Wind Warning (area shaded in gold) is in effect until Tuesday afternoon for wind gusts up to 70 to 80 mph possible in elevations above 2,500 feet.
Due to the ongoing drought conditions, the fire danger will be extremely high across the entire viewing area. Fires will be able to develop easily and spread very quickly in these conditions. If you live near an ongoing fire or start to see smoke, it may be a good idea to have a "go bag" ready in case you need to evacuate the area with short notice.