Weather Briefing for Tuesday, January 12, 2021

OUTLOOK

Precipitation chances will diminish today as a weak low pressure system departs the area and is replaced by dry high pressure. Above-normal afternoon temperatures will continue through Thursday. A strong cold front is expected to arrive Friday, bringing another chance for precipitation and ushering in cold weather for the weekend.

DAY SPONSOR

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Their phone number is 371-4718.

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Weather Sponsor

Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

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General forecast through Thursday Night

Franklin area

Today

Areas of fog in the morning. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs near 50. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with lows in the low-to-mid 20s. Light winds out of the north.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs from the mid-50s. Calm winds.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-20s. Calm winds.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Light and variable winds.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 30.

Highlands area

Today

Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 7 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 mph becoming calm by midmorning.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs in the upper 40s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s.

Otto area

Today

Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-20s. WInds out of the north around 5 mph becoming calm by midnight.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-50s. Calm winds.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-20s. Calm winds.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-50s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing.

Nantahala area

Today

Areas of fog in the morning. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with low in the mid-20s. Light and variable winds.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs near 50. Calm winds.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s. Calm winds.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs near 50. Light winds out of the southwest.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing.

HAZARDS

There could be some black ice on area rodways this morning, A copy of the Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Serice is posted bwlow.

..PATCHY BLACK ICE POSSIBLE ON AREA ROADS IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING…

Most of the North Carolina mountains had some light rain or minor snow accumulation during the day Monday. While precipitation has mostly tapered off this evening, roads may remain wet due to melting snow and some puddles. Temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing overnight, and patchy black ice may form.

Drivers may encounter slippery road conditions. Black ice can be very difficult to spot on area roadways. Use caution and be on the lookout for black ice if traveling in the western North Carolina mountains tonight through Tuesday morning.

The Macon County Public Health Department has not released a Weekly Demographic Report since December 30, 2020.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the lower range of yellow today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (1.2 out of 12) with Mixed Trace being the main culprit. Tomorrow is expected to be a little higher (1.8 out of 12).

Weather Extremes for Macon County for January 12th

Highest Temperature 70°F in Franklin in 1890
lowest Temperature -6°F in Highlands in 1895
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 5.10 inches in Highlands in 2018
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 6.2 inches in Highlands in 1996

Weather Extremes for Macon County for the Month of January

Highest Temperature 78°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1999
lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands in 1985
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 5.10 inches in Highlands in 2018
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 14.0 inches in Franklin in 1877