Daily Weather Briefing for Sunday, February 26, 2017 Increased Fire Danger

…More snow for the western U.S. and great lakes, and rain returns to the Gulf Coast region…

Now that the strong cold front has cleared the East Coast, expect a return to temperatures that are more typical of February, compared to the past few days that were a preview of spring. A surface high pressure area will settle in behind the front across the eastern U.S., and it will be accompanied by sunny to partly cloudy skies along with temperatures mainly in the 40s and 50s on Sunday afternoon. The exception to this will be the Great Lakes region, where a weak impulse crossing overhead will be enough to generate periods of snow showers from northern Minnesota to upstate New York.

By Monday morning, return flow from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the next storm system over Texas will begin advecting increased moisture northbound across much of the southern Plains and the Deep south. Numerous showers and storms are likely to develop during the first half of the work week as the warm front lifts northward, with some locations getting in excess of an inch of rainfall by Tuesday morning, especially from southern Arkansas to northern Alabama.

Across the northwestern quadrant of the nation, a developing low pressure system and accompanying upper level disturbance will bring more widespread coverage of coastal rain and mountain/inland snow showers for Sunday. More of the Intermountain West will likely be affected going into Monday as the frontal boundary moves farther inland. Heavy snow is likely for the higher mountain ranges.

LOCAL OVERVIEW

..Cool high pressure will be centered over our area today then move off the Carolina coast tonight. Expect warmer air to return during the first half of the week. A warm front lifts north through the area Tuesday then a cold front crosses our region from the northwest Wednesday night. Cool high pressure brings temperatures a little below normal at the end of the week.

THREE DAY OUTLOOK

Sunday (Increased Fire Danger Today)

Sunny with highs near the mid 50s and winds out of the northwest shifting around sunset to come out of the west, then south.

Sunday Night

Increasing clouds with lows near freezing and calm winds.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with highs near 60. Variable light winds in the morning and then from the south in the afternoon. Chances of rain increase after 9 am, becoming more likely after 2 pm. 40% chance of rain with rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch expected.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid 40s and calm winds. 50% chance of rain with rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch expected.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with highs near the mid 60s and calm winds. 60% chance of with thunderstorms possible.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid 50s. 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms.

HAZARDS

Humidity levels will drop below 30% around 9 am today and remain low until after dark tonight. Macon Media recommends you put off burning debris or brush piles.

As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN

MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer or photo, to [email protected]
There is no charge for civic, educational or non profit groups.

MARDI GRAS DINNER TO BENEFIT REACH OF MACON COUNTY

A Mardi Gras Dinner to benefit REACH of Macon County will be held at Root + Barrel Kitchen on Main Street on Tuesday, February 28th at 6:30 pm.
Reserved tickets are $75 and open seating is $60.
More information is on the flyer posted here.

Be the Voice for a Child! Don’t let another child’s voice go unheard. The Guardian Ad Litem program is currently seeking volunteers in your community to be the voice of a foster child in court. The North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program thrives on volunteerism, and its vital work is only made possible by dedicated volunteers who are committed to the cause of keeping children safe from future harm. We will have a training class for volunteers in Sylva starting March 16, 2017. We would love to have you join us. It’s not too late to apply!
If you have an interest in becoming the voice for a child, contact Joe Allen at the Macon County GAL office at 828-349-7222 or Shannon Cowan at the Jackson County GAL Office at 828-587-2087. You can also find out more about the program by visiting www.ncgal.org or www.facebook.com/ncGuardianAdLitem

Weather Extremes Almanac for February 26, 2017

North Carolina

High Temperature 84ºF in Elizabethtown, Bladen County in 1977
Low Temperature -10ºF in Blowing rock, Watauga County in 1967
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 4.25 inches in Highlands, Macon County in 1899
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 14.0 inches in Bakersville, Mitchell County in 1894

Macon County

High Temperature 77ºF in Franklin in 1977
Low Temperature 3°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1967
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 4.25 inches in Highlands in 1899
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 6.5 inches in Franklin in 2015

Astronomy

Twilight Begins: 6:41 am
Sunrise: 7:06 am
Sunset 6:27 pm
Twilight Ends: 6:52 pm
Day Length: 12 hours 11 minutes
Sunrise to Sunset: 11 hours 21 minutes

Moon Phase: New moon at 9:58 am
Moonrise 7:09 am
Moonset 6:43 pm

Observing the Skies

Evening Events and Planets