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UPDATE | National Park Sites Dealing With Weather Extremes

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Published Date

January 8, 2024

Editor's note: This updates with Cumberland Island National Seashore closing in advance of the storm.

Bitter sub-zero temperatures, flooding, ice, and heavy snows are being reported from across the National Park System, forcing some closures and warnings that visitors not ignore the weather extremes.

While Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah on Monday expected daytime wind chills of 3° below zero Fahrenheit, with the prospect of -15° overnight, Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina was bracing for a cold front bringing strong winds, coastal flooding and ocean overwash Tuesday into Wednesday. Cumberland Island National Seashore along the Georgia coast closed Monday afternoon, with plans to reopen Wednesday.

In Virginia, the bulk of Skyline Drive, from Dickey Ridge to Waynesboro, in Shenandoah National Park was closed Monday morning due to snow and ice. Many sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia were closed either due to incoming weather, existing snow and ice, or road work.

At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, staff closed the Ocracoke Campground at noon Monday, and the Oregon Inlet Campground and all other visitor facilities were expected to close at 12 p.m. Tuesday. Nearby, visitor facilities at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial were to close at noon Tuesday.

Travel through vulnerable areas of N.C. Highway 12 on the Outer Banks should be avoided Tuesday evening into Wednesday, the National Park Service said. 

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