Daily Weather Report for Friday, March 23, 2018

STRUCTURE FIRE DONATIONS

Late Sunday afternoon, Steve Tippett’s home caught fire and friends have established a GoFundMe to help. [LINK]

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Dry and unseasonably cool high pressure dominates our weather tonight. The next low-pressure system arrives for the weekend with light precipitation and well-below normal temperatures. The cold weather will persist through Monday as strong high pressure builds down the Appalachians. Temperatures rebound to near-normal by next Wednesday as the high pressure moves offshore in advance of the next system.

WEATHER SPONSOR

Weather Almanac for March 23rd (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 82°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2011
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 2004
Greatest Rainfall 4.05 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1952
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 0.1 inches in Highlands in 1950

Record Weather Events for March (1872-2017)

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest Rainfall 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993

THREE DAY OUTLOOK

The images below represent the forecast at 8 am for today, tomorrow and the next morning at 8 am. Click each image to enlarge.

Macon Media is experimenting with the three-day outlook to give a more tailored outlook for different areas of the county and will be experimenting with locations and formats. Feel free to give feedback at fb.com/MaconMediaNews

———————————-
FRANKLIN AREA

TODAY

Sunny, with highs near the lower 50s and winds out of the north.

TONIGHT

Cloudy with patchy dense fog expected to develop after 4 am or so. Lows near the upper 30s. Variable light winds. 50% chance of rain, mainly after midnight and with less than a tenth of an inch rainfall expected.

SATURDAY

Patchy dense fog expected in the morning. Cloudy with highs in the lower 50s. Calm winds in the morning, then from the southeast in the afternoon. 60% chance of rain, mainly in the afternoon with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Cloudy and rainy with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s. 80% chance of rain with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected.

SUNDAY

Cloudy with highs in the lower 50s. 40% chance of rain, mainly before 3 pm.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near freezing. 30% chance of rain, mainly before midnight. The rain should end before temperatures drop below freezing. Any snow that does develop will not accumulate in the Franklin area.

—————————————–
OTTO AREA

TODAY

Mostly sunny with highs in the lower 50s. Light winds out of the north in the early morning will increase and shift to come out of the northwest at 5 to 10 mph by mid-morning.

TONIGHT

Cloudy with lows near 40 and patchy dense fog expected to develop after 4 am or so. 50% chance of rain, mainly after midnight with rainfall accumulations of less than a tenth of an inch expected.

SATURDAY

Patchy dense fog in the morning. Cloudy with highs near the lower 50s. Winds out of the southeast becoming calm by noon. 60% chance of rain in the afternoon with rainfall accumulations between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Cloudy and rainy overnight. Lows in the mid-40s. 80% chance of rain.

SUNDAY

Cloudy with highs near 50. 40% chance of rain.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near freezing. 30% chance of rain, mainly before midnight.

———————————————
HIGHLANDS AREA

TODAY

Mostly sunny with highs in the mid-40s. Winds 10 to 15 mph out of the northwest, gusting to 20 mph.

TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid-30s and wind chills making it feel a few degrees colder. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest. 50% chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall accumulation expected.

SATURDAY

Patchy dense fog in the morning. Cloudy with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the south. 60% chance of rain with rainfall accumulation between a quarter and half an inch expected.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Cloudy and rainy with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the west.80% chance of rain.

SUNDAY

Cloudy with highs in the mid-40s. 40% chance of rain.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near 30. 30% chance of rain, mainly before midnight.

——————————————–
NANTAHALA AREA

TODAY

Mostly sunny with highs near the upper 40s. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest.

TONIGHT

Cloudy with lows in the upper 30s. Fog expected to develop after 3 am. Winds out of the northwest calming before midnight. 60% chance of rain with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected.

SATURDAY

Patchy fog in the morning. Mostly cloudy with highs in the lower 50s. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the south. 60% chance of rain with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Cloudy and rainy. Lows near 50. Winds out of the southwest calming before midnight. 80% chance of rain.

SUNDAY

Cloudy with highs in the lower 50s. 40% chance of rain.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near freezing. 30% chance of rain, mainly before midnight.

—————————————-

GOES 16 GeoColor – Infrared Loop
11:42 pm to 02:52 am

HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today.

The National Weather Service has issued a Public Information Statement with total amounts of snow from the most recent storm that has been reported to their office from around the region. The full list is below for those interested in it…

Public Information Statement

Public Information Statement
Spotter Reports
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
251 PM EDT Thu Mar 22 2018

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 48
HOURS FOR THE MARCH 21-22 WINTER STORM THAT AFFECTED OUR REGION.
APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS, COOPERATIVE
OBSERVERS, SKYWARN SPOTTERS, CoCoRaHS OBSERVERS, AND THE MEDIA FOR
THESE REPORTS. THIS SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE AT
WEATHER.GOV/GSP

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS 
 SNOWFALL OF 
 /INCHES/ MEASUREMENT

NORTH CAROLINA

...Avery County...
 Beech Mountain 4.0 730 AM 3/22 Co-Op Observer 
 2 NNW Banner Elk 2.0 659 PM 3/21 Law Enforcement 
 Grandfather Mountain 1.5 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 Elk Park 1.5 714 PM 3/21 Public 
 Newland 1.5 1200 AM 3/22 Emergency Manager 
 1 W Banner Elk 1.0 648 PM 3/21 Public 
 3 WSW Jonas Ridge 0.2 645 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 

...Buncombe County...
 4 N Weaverville 1.0 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 NE Woodfin 0.7 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 4 ESE Weaverville 0.5 900 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 Weaverville 0.2 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 4 SW Candler 0.1 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 3 NE Downtown Ashevi 0.1 700 AM 3/21 CoCoRaHS 
 2 W Fletcher T 800 AM 3/21 ASOS 
 2 NNW Asheville T 232 PM 3/21 Academia 

...Burke County...
 1 S Jonas Ridge 0.3 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 

...Davie County...
 1 SW Sheffield 1.2 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 3 NW Advance 0.1 800 AM 3/21 CoCoRaHS 

...Graham County...
 10 WSW Town Of Sante 6.0 700 PM 3/21 Emergency Manager 
 5 NE Robbinsville Ag 2.7 730 AM 3/22 Co-Op Observer 

...Haywood County...
 5 W Maggie Valley 10.0 210 PM 3/21 Public 
 1 NNW Maggie Valley 6.0 230 PM 3/21 Broadcast Media 
 2 NW Waynesville 5.0 1200 AM 3/22 Broadcast Media 
 2 S Cove Creek 4.0 820 PM 3/21 ELEVATION 2580 FEET. 
 2 ENE Maggie Valley 3.3 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 NE Cruso 0.4 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 WNW Waynesville 0.2 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 

...Jackson County...
 Balsam 5.0 306 PM 3/21 Elevation 3333 ft. 
 4 E Tuckasegee 0.3 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 3 ESE Tuckasegee 0.1 700 AM 3/21 CoCoRaHS 

...Macon County...
 Highlands 0.7 800 AM 3/22 Co-Op Observer 

...Madison County...
 2 WNW Luck 8.0 750 PM 3/21 Public 
 Wolf Laurel 7.0 225 PM 3/21 Public 
 Marshall 4.0 700 AM 3/22 Co-Op Observer 
 2 WSW Spring Creek 3.8 900 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 NNW Spring Creek 3.5 730 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 15 NNE Marshall 3.2 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 WNW Allenstand 3.1 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 5 NW Marshall 3.0 726 PM 3/21 County Official 
 3 SE Spring Creek 2.1 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 WSW Faust 2.0 1225 PM 3/21 Broadcast Media 
 2 W Canto 0.5 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 

...Mitchell County...
 1 ESE Buladean 8.2 800 AM 3/22 Public 
 1 SE Buladean 5.1 640 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 2 SE Bakersville 4.5 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 Bakersville 2.0 712 PM 3/21 911 Call Center 

...Swain County...
 2 SW Alarka 7.5 545 PM 3/21 ELEVATION 3000 FEET. 
 2 NW Bryson City 6.5 844 PM 3/21 ELEVATION 2200 FEET. 
 Bryson City 4 6.4 800 AM 3/22 Co-Op Observer 
 2 NNW Bryson City 5.0 321 PM 3/21 BRCN7 COOP observer. 
 1 ESE Wesser 2.1 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 3 NE Tapoco 1.5 1200 AM 3/22 Public 

...Transylvania County...
 5 W Rosman T 1115 AM 3/21 CoCoRaHS 

...Yancey County...
 2 NNE Wolf Laurel 9.0 812 PM 3/21 ELEVATION 3000 FEET. 
 6 SSW Burnsville 5.0 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 5 SSW Burnsville 5.0 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 Mount Mitchell State 4.0 700 AM 3/21 HADS 
 5 NW Mount Mitchell 3.5 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 1 E Swiss 1.5 800 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 4 ESE Ramseytown 1.2 700 AM 3/22 CoCoRaHS 
 Burnsville 0.8 420 PM 3/21 Public 

TENNESSEE

...Sevier County...
 Newfound Gap 5.2 800 AM 3/22 Co-Op Observer 

Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.

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

GOES-16 ABI CONUS – 11.20 um (Precipitation)
2:52 am

MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to [email protected]. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphics. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.

FRIENDS OF THE GREENWAY FUNDRAISER FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH

Fundraiser for Friends of the Greenway–an indoor flea market is continuing every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in February and every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in March at FROG Quarters, 573 East Main St in Franklin (next to the new bridge).

If you’re interested in selling, please call 369-8488 for details and registration information–new vendors needed. Only the registration fee will go to FROG, but donations are always appreciated. Funds will benefit the following projects: Butterfly Garden, Educational Signs on the Trail, Splash Pad Renovation, Chimney Swift Tower, and FROG Quarters meeting place. If you’re shopping, enter at Mainspring Conservation Trust drive and circle around behind the buildings. Come check out the bargains!

From Bully to Buddy, A Community Forum

Bullying affects us all in different ways. Let’s work this out together.
Sincere invitations to the bully, the bullied and those in between — all ages — all genders
Featuring: interaction, role playing, dialogue, discovery and direction (and some fun!)

This forum will be taking place on Wednesday, April 25 at 6 PM – 8 PM
pin in Tartan Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church Street, Franklin, NC

Join the event page on Facebook to find out more and to receive updates. [LINK]

CARPENTER for SHERIFF

MEET and GREETS!!!!!!!!!!
YES!! They are now planned!!!
To all that wish to attend:

Highlands Library on March 23rd from 12pm-2pm
Franklin Library on March 30th 1pm-5pm

I have set up some meet and greets, for those, who wish to sit down and talk about issues that you are having in your community and our county and how you and your family can find out my plans to MAKE MACON SAFE AGAIN. While people are at the meeting, they will be able to sign the petition to place me on the ballot in November. Thank you!

There will be light refreshments for all to enjoy!

Please share so the info can be passed along. Any questions; message me Facebook; or call and text me at 828-342-4283. I would be more than happy to answer them.

Series of Dementia Workshops Coming in March and April

A campaign to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding around dementia is underway in Macon County with the support of area churches, the Southwestern Commission Area Agency on Aging, Macon County Public Library, Angel Medical, Macon County Senior Services, and Macon County DSS.

Hickory Knoll United Methodist Church has partnered with a growing list of area churches throughout Macon County to host a workshop series, ‘Dementia Friends NC’ beginning on Tuesdays, March 20, 2018. Designed to help build awareness about dementia and identify ways local citizens can help people who are living with it in our community, the four-session workshop series is being made possible through a Missional Engagement Team Grant of the Smoky Mountain District of The United Methodist Church.

The 90-minute sessions will take place on four consecutive Tuesdays, beginning March 20, 2018, with both afternoon and evening sessions offered, as well as choice of venue.  All 2:00 p.m. sessions will be offered at the John & Dorothy Crawford Senior Center.   All 7:00 p.m. sessions will be offered at the Macon County Public Library.

ALL WORKSHOPS WILL BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

More information, including a schedule of meeting locations and times, are on the blog. [LINK]

Uptown Gallery classes
(These are on-going classes – repeat weekly)

Free classes and open studio times are being offered at the The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm or on Thursday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. 

Bring your own materials and join an on-going drawing course led by gallery artists on Fridays, from 11am – 2 pm. For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at (828) 349 – 4607.

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South

Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)

Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.

Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future

Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.

Sun and Moon

Sun

Begin civil twilight 7:08 a.m.
Sunrise 7:33 a.m.
Sun transit 1:40 p.m.
Sunset 7:48 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:13 p.m.

Moon

Moonset 1:15 a.m.
Moonrise 11:52 a.m.
Moon transit 7:04 p.m.
Moonset 2:18 a.m. tomorrow morning

Phase of the Moon on March 23, 2018: Waxing Crescent with 39% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: First Quarter on March 24, 2018 at 11:35 a.m. (local daylight time)

Sky Guides for this week

Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine

There will be three solar and two lunar eclipses in 2018. [LINK]

Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]

Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to [email protected] for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia

Posted at 3:42 am on March 23, 2018

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety

Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster’s Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Weather Prediction Center.