wx20170220

….Slight risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Southern Plains continuing into Monday morning…

…Heavy snow possible for the Sierras, Sawtooth and Wind River/Absaroka Ranges…

…Heavy rain likely for portions of Northern/Central California–possible for the Pacific Northwest coast…

…Heavy rain possible for portions Western/Central Gulf Coast…

Much of the West Coast will remain in an active wet pattern through mid-week as multiple Pacific fronts move through the region. A nearly continuous plume of moisture will be directed toward portions of central and northern California through Tuesday– resulting in heavy rainfall along the coast and valleys; with mountain snow. Snow and lower elevation rain will also develop over parts of the Northern Intermountain region through Tuesday as the the front pushes out into the High Plains.

Additionally, northern stream upper-level energy associated with the deep upper-level trough over the Rockies will move to the Great Lakes by Tuesday morning. The energy will aid in producing rain over parts of the Northern Plains/Upper Mississippi Valley today and spreading into the Great Lakes/Western Ohio valley by Tuesday morning.

A strong line of thunderstorms developed Sunday evening along and ahead of the eastward-moving cold front through the Southern/Central Plains. The showers and thunderstorms are expected to move east into the Lower/Mid-Mississippi valley by this afternoon, extending northward into the Tennessee valley. Warm Gulf air streaming northward along the front will help maintain higher precipitation for the Gulf states. Heavy rainfall may develop and increase the threat for flash flooding. Please refer to WPC excessive rainfall outlooks for additional information on the risk for heavy rain and flash flooding.

LOCAL OVERVIEW

Warm high pressure will move over the area through the early part of the week, bringing temperatures close to record highs. A cold front will bring a chance for some modest rainfall over the area by mid week, followed by brief drying, before a frontal system arrives next weekend with chances of rain and thunder.

THREE DAY OUTLOOK

Washington’s Birthday

Patchy dense fog in the morning. Mostly sunny with highs near the lower 70s. Calm winds shifting to come out of the south in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy with lows near the low to mid 40s.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with highs near the mid 60s. Calm winds rising to 5 to 10 mph out of the south by mid morning. Rain chances increase after 4 pm.

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with lows near the upper 40s. Light winds out of the southeast. 60% chance of rain, mainly after midnight.

Wednesday

Partly sunny with highs near 70. 40% chance of rain, mainly before 2 pm.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with lows near 50.

HAZARDS

Patchy dense fog could develop this morning, If it does, please increase your following distance and use your vehicles low beams so other motorists can see you. Otherwise, no hazardous weather is expected today.

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.

FRANKLIN BIRD CLUB MEETING AT LIBRARY

TONIGHT
Franklin Bird Club meeting. “Cherokee Bird Legends and Myths” by Barbara Duncan. 7:00 pm at the Macon County Public Library.

February 21 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the FHS Fine Arts Building
Youth Night Out Teen Dating Violence and Healthy Relationships.
Presented as a partnership of Angel Medical Center, Macon County Public Health, REACH of Macon County and Discover Church.

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.

Weather Extremes Almanac for February 20, 2017

North Carolina

High Temperature 83ºF in Hot Springs, Madison County in 1939
Low Temperature -20ºF on Mount Mitchell, Yancey County in 2015
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 4.00 inches in Lenoir, Caldwell County in 1947
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 11.0 inches on Grandfather Mountain, Avery County in 1999

Macon County

High Temperature 77ºF in Franklin in 1994
Low Temperature -6ºF in Highlands in 2015
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.14 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1954
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 0.6 inches in Highlands in 1940

Astronomy

Twilight Begins: 6:48 am
Sunrise: 7:14 am
Sunset 6:21 pm
Twilight Ends: 6:47 pm
Day Length: 11 hours 59 minutes
Sunrise to Sunset: 11 hours 7 minutes

Moon Phase: Waning Crescent with 42% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated
Moonrise 3:35 am
Moonset 1:08 pm

Observing the Skies

Evening Events and Planets