Weather Briefing for Monday, March 8, 2021

OUTLOOK

A ridge of high pressure will remain over the Carolinas northeastern Georgia into much of next week allowing the dry weather to continue. This weather pattern will lead to warmer and above normal high temps most of next week. A cold front will approach from the west Friday into the weekend leading to the potential for increased rain chances.

Relative humidity levels will drop into the teens this afternoon, resulting in conditions that will make outdoor burning dangerous . Please hold off on outdoor burning today.

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News Highlights

National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Wednesday Night

Franklin area

Today
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with lows around 30. Calm winds. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Calm winds. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with highs near 70. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s.

Highlands area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)

Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest winds around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Light and variable winds. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with highs near 60. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40.

Otto area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)

Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds in the morning ioncreasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with lows around freezing. Calm winds. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Calm winds. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s.

Nantahala area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)

Today

Sunny, with highs in the lower 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with lows around freezing. Light winds out of the southwest. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 60s. Calm winds. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Calm winds. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s.

HAZARDS

In general, hazardous weather is not expected today. Conditions have continued to dry over the last few days, and the relative humidity levels today will drop below 20% in the afternoon. Add to that breezy conditions, and you have a recipe for a situation where outdoor fires can get out of control and spread. Please do not conduct any outdoor burning today.

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 in the medium-high range (8.2 out of 12) today with Alder, Juniper, and Elm being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be a little lower (7.8 out of 12).

Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 8th

Highest Temperature 83°F in Franklin in 1974
Lowest Temperature -5°F in Highlands in 1920
Greatest One-Day Rain 2.97 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1946
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 3.0 inches in Highlands in 1931