The Blue Ridge Parkway, typically a perfect, picturesque mountain landscape, is now yet another example of Tropical Storm Helene’s tragic mark on Western North Carolina.
Drone footage captured by Matthew Van Swol on Monday, Oct. 14, shows a glimpse of the devastation. The National Park Service has reported nearly three mudslides and thousands of fallen trees covering the parkway.
“This is normally PEAK leaf-viewing season in the fall, and the parkway is unrecognizable, said Swol on X. “Zero leaves. Up to 80 percent tree loss in some areas. Mudslides. Roads washed out.”
Clean-up of America’s favorite drive will be an “extensive process,” according to the Park Service. Crews are working to assess the damage and stabilize the road.
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The Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed throughout North Carolina.
Tropical Storm Helene moved through East Tennessee and North Carolina on Sept. 27, bringing extensive rainfall, heavy winds and flash floods to the region. This deadly combination resulted in 125 weather-related deaths in North Carolina and a death toll of 17 in East Tennessee.
Is the Blue Ridge Parkway open?
The parkway continues to gradually open following Tropical Storm Helene.
America’s favorite drive is open through most of Virginia, from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia through mile marker 200.1, about 17 miles from the North Carolina state line.
Where is the Blue Ridge Parkway closed?
As we head into the weekend, we wanted to share a look behind the gates of another aspect of recovery efforts on the Parkway. Tens of thousands of downed trees and additional debris across hundreds of miles are keeping crews busy clearing the road where it can be cleared. pic.twitter.com/kCfO9VZNzW
— Blue Ridge Parkway (@BlueRidgeNPS) October 18, 2024
The parkway is closed from Sunbelt/Autumnview Road in Virginia (mile marker 200.1) through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (mile marker 469).
The road is closed to all motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
There is no timeline from the Parks Service on how soon this segment of America’s favorite drive could reopen.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Watch: Drone footage shows Blue Ridge Parkway devastation after Helene
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