Weather Briefing for Saturday, February 6, 2021 Winter Storm Watch Issued for Macon County

OUTLOOK

Low pressure will spread moisture north across our region this afternoon and tonight then move off the East Coast on Sunday. Dry high pressure builds back into the area on Monday. Unsettled weather possible through the rest of the week.

—BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT—

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

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.

— END SPONSOR SEGMENT—

News Highlights

National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Monday Night

Franklin area

Today

A slight chance of rain and snow before 3pm, then a slight chance of rain between 3pm and 5pm, then a chance of rain and snow after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with highs in the mid-40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight

A chance of rain and snow before 9pm, then snow likely. Cloudy, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs in the lower 40s. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night

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

Monday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 50. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows around freezing.

Highlands area

Today

A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight

Snow, mainly before 4am. Lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of snow before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 40. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning, then shifting to come out of the southeast in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows around 30.

Otto area

Today

A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with highs in the mid-40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of thesoutheast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight

Rain and snow likely before 11pm, then snow. Lows around freezing. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs in the lower 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s. Light and variable winds.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s.

Nantahala area

Today

A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight

A chance of rain and snow before 8pm, then snow. Lows around freezing. Winds out of the sSoutheast around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of snow before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs in the upper 30s. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday Night

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

Monday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning, the shifting to come out of the south in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s.

HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is generally not expected until later today, when precipitation is expected to arrive in the county. Rain is expected in the early afternoon hours, gradually turning to snow as the day progresses and temperatures fall. The National Weather Service expects at least an inch to fall in the valleys of Macon County, with a potential for up to 3 to 6 inches falling overnight in the lower elevations. Up to a foot is possible in the higher elevations. If you do not have sufficient supplies for the next two or three days, this morning would be a good time to get them so you can return home before the early afternoon hours.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Watch for Macon County, and a copy has been added below. The snowfall forecast graphic has been added, with the low end amount being on the top, the expected accumulation in the center, and the high-end accumulation on the bottom. As usual with any image on Macon Media, click or tap on the image to embiggen it to to a larger size.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
358 AM EST Sat Feb 6 2021

…WINTRY PRECIPITATION EXPECTED SATURDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND VICINITY…

.A low pressure system moving along a frontal system draped over the Southeast will lead to the development of precipitation over the southern Appalachians late today into Sunday. Accumulating snow and sleet will impact travel from far northeast Georgia, across the southern Appalachians, into the northwest North Carolina Piedmont.

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST SUNDAY…

* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts, especially at the higher elevations.

* WHERE…The mountains of western North Carolina.

* WHEN…From 6 PM this evening to noon EST Sunday.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Please report snow and ice accumulations by calling the National Weather Service toll free at…1…800…2 6 7…8 1 0 1. Leave a message with your observation and the specific location where it occurred. You can also post your report to National Weather Service Greenville Spartanburg Facebook or tweet your report using hashtag nwsgsp.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp. The latest state road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the mid-to-upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (1.7 out of 12) with Juniper and Elm being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be a little lower (0.5 out of 12).

Weather Extremes for Macon County on February 6th

Highest Temperature 73°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2008
Lowest Temperature -3°F in Highlands in 1996
Greatest One-Day Rain 5.36 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 19550
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 74.0 inches in Franklin in 1983