We see two very different Smokies today and the highest peaks in the southern Appalachians provide an atmospheric boundary. On the west side of the mountains we see low dense stratus clouds, but on the east side we have clear skies. As the atmosphere is uplifted over the the highest ridge of mountains there's abundant cooling and cloud formation. The winds are form the northwest and the Smokies offer the mountain boundary along the Tennessee/North Carolina stateline. As the winds cross over the mountains, the descend, warm, and prevent cloud formation especially just east of the summits.

Winds are north/northwesterly at 6-12 m.p.h. with orographic uplift along west of mountains and perhaps katabatic winds on east downslope? Gusts to 24 m.p.h on east side of mountain with slightly lower relative humidity.