Weather Briefing for Thursday, February 18, 2021

OUTLOOK

Low pressure tracking south of a cold wedge of air east of the Appalachians will bring widespread clouds and precipitation to the area into Friday. Wintry precipitation can be expected today and tonight across parts of western North Carolina and the higher elevations. This weekend, broad high pressure spreads back over the region leading to drier weather and cool temperatures.

WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENTS • Franklin District is on a two-hour delay this morning. NO buses on icy roads. • Nantahala School is on a two-hour delay this morning. A decision will be made between 8:15am and 8:45am. • Highlands School is having a Virtual Learning Day today. Students will need to attend the google meet sessions to be counted present. There will not be any food services for Highlands students today. An Open Thread for Road Conditions and Public Safety Reports is being held on Facebook [LINK]
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News Highlights

National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Friday Night

Franklin area

Today

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then rain likely between 11am and 3pm, then showers likely after 3pm. Patchy fog. Highs in the mid-40s. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night

Rain likely before 4am, then a slight chance of sleet. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Light winds out of the north. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Friday

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the lower 40s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 7 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with highs near 40.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s.

Highlands area

Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then rain, mainly after 10am. Areas of fog. Highs in the lower 40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning, then becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night

A chance of rain or freezing rain before 4am, then a slight chance of freezing rain, then a slight chance of freezing rain and sleet after 5am. Widespread fog, mainly between 11pm and 4am. Areas of freezing fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Friday

Areas of freezing fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the lower 20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-30s.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the lower 20s.

Otto area

Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then rain, mainly after 10am. Areas of fog. Highs in the lower 40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning, the decreasing to be light and variable in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night

A chance of rain or freezing rain before 4am, then a slight chance of freezing rain, then a slight chance of freezing rain and sleet after 5am. Widespread fog, mainly between 11pm and 4am. Areas of freezing fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Friday

Areas of freezing fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the lower 20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-30s.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the lower 20s.

Nantahala area

Today

Showers before 11am, then rain likely between 11am and 3pm, then showers likely after 3pm. Patchy fog. Highs in the mid-40s. Winds of of the southwest around 5 mph becoming calm by noon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night

Rain likely before 2am, then a chance of sleet. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the west 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Friday

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 8 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 20. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with highs near 40.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s.

HAZARDS

Macon County is under a Winter Storm Warning above 3500 feet for a potential mixed wintry precipitation event that could drop as much as a couple of tenths of an inch of ice in the region, so keep this in mind if you plan on traveling through the higher elevations or outside of Macon County.

Macon Media is under the opinion this will be mostly a rain event for most of the county, except for the higher elevations and on the Highlands Plateau, where this could be a significant icing event. Minor flooding, power outages caused by falling limbs and trees, and accidents caused by motorists who drive too fast for conditions will be our main concern in the rest of the county.

Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1043 PM EST Wed Feb 17 2021

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY BELOW 3500 FEET…

* WHAT…For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of around one quarter inch. For the Winter Weather Advisory, mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to an inch and ice accumulations up to a tenth of an inch.

* WHERE…Swain, Macon, Graham, Northern Jackson and Southern Jackson Counties.

* WHEN…Until 7 PM EST Thursday.

* IMPACTS…Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice, mainly across the higher elevations. Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet, and ice are expected or occurring. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages.

A Winter Weather Advisory for freezing rain means that periods of freezing rain or freezing drizzle will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while driving.

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.

Winter Storm Warning
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1043 PM EST Wed Feb 17 2021

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY BELOW 3500 FEET…
* WHAT…For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of around one quarter inch. For the Winter Weather Advisory, mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to an inch and ice accumulations up to a tenth of an inch.

* WHERE…Swain, Macon, Graham, Northern Jackson and Southern Jackson Counties.

* WHEN…Until 7 PM EST Thursday.
* IMPACTS…Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice, mainly across the higher elevations. Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet, and ice are expected or occurring. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages.

A Winter Weather Advisory for freezing rain means that periods of freezing rain or freezing drizzle will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while driving.

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 upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.7 out of 12) with Juniper, Elm, and Alder being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be low-medium (4.4out of 12).

Weather Extremes for Macon County on February 18th

Highest Temperature 73°F in Franklin in 1890
Lowest Temperature -69°F in Highlands in 1900
Greatest One-Day Rain 2.59 inches in Highlands in 1940
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 11.0 inches in Highlands in 19796