The Tennessee State Fair will be closed to the public Monday due to weather concerns as the remnants of Hurricane Irma move through the area.
Forecasters predict the storm will be a tropical depression by the time it arrives near Jackson by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, bringing wind gusts up to 55 mph and up to 3 inches of rain.
“The safety of our attendees is our number one priority. At this time, we think it best to close the Fair for tonight and readdress weather issues for the rest of the week as needed,” said Scott Jones, Tennessee State Fair Manager.
The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm watch for portions of southern Tennessee and a wind advisory starting Monday afternoon across central and eastern sections of the state, especially in higher elevations.
Officials said scheduled contests, including the celebrity and legislative milking contest, will continue to take place as scheduled.
