News and Weather Briefing for Saturday, May 29, 2021

OUTLOOK

A cold front crossing the area today will usher in somewhat cooler weather that will last into early next week. Scattered showers and thunderstorms may redevelop near the front today, but dry weather is in store for Sunday and Monday. Local News Update
(National News is published after the Macon Calendar section)

Cowee Mountain Repair Plans Switching to Stone Change to stone from soil allows crews to speed up massive repair on U.S. 441 [LINK]

Flags Lowered Until Sunset on May 30th to Honor Victims of Shooting in San Jose, California by Order of the President and the Governor [LINK]

The Macon County Art Association in Franklin is pleased to announce that the Vet’s Portrait Project will be held this year. This will be our ninth year for this event. Unfortunately the pandemic precluded the project last year but the artists are ready to go for 2021. This year there are spots for 4-7 veterans as we had applications remaining from 2019. Please announce the call for Macon County Veterans or their family members to apply to have the Veteran’s portrait painted by one of our local artists. Vets or their families may apply at the gallery between Memorial Day and July 4th of this year. There is no cost to apply or for the portraits. The only requirement is that the Veteran or their family member be present to receive the portrait on Veterans Day November 11, 2021. Community members who wish to help support the costs for this program are also welcome. Contact the project chair by email at [email protected].

The Macon County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday night and the county manager presented his proposed budget. The next budget meeting will take place at 4pm on June 3rd, where Burningtown and Otto VFDs and the school system will present their budget requests to the board.

Download a PDF of the budget message [PDF]

National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Monday Night

Franklin area

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs near 70. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-70s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-upper 40s. Light and variable winds.

Memorial Day

Sunny, with highs near 80.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-50s.

Highlands area

Today

Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the lower range of yellow.

Fire and Smoke Map
(There are no significant sources of smoke in the region as of 3am on 04-22-2021.)

Highest Temperature 91°F in Highlands in 1941
Lowest Temperature 36°F in Highlands in 1894
Greatest Rainfall 2.21 inches in Nantahala in 1976
Greatest Snowfall (No snowfall recorded on this date since records started being kept in 1872)