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Monday, March 24, 2025

Weather Briefing for Monday, March 24, 2025

GENERAL OUTLOOK

A cold front will cross the area early today, bringing a chance for a wetting rain. Dry high pressure builds back into the area behind the front, and a dry reinforcing cold front will arrive Tuesday, resulting in fire weather issues continuing the rest of the week. Rain may arrive over the weekend.

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

.TODAY...Cloudy with widespread showers this morning, then mostly sunny this afternoon. Highs around 60. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
..TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows around 40. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.
..TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph, increasing to 35 mph in the afternoon.
..TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 40. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph, decreasing to 25 mph after midnight.
..WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Winds out of the northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
..WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

After tyhis morning's rainfall, hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight. We are still under a burn ban, as it is not enough to alleviate conditions for very long.

The combination of low relative humidity and drier fuels will increase fire danger Tuesday through Saturday.

NEWS UPDATES

• Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• Polk County wildfires scorch 5,000 acres with little containment, residents voice concerns [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• Wealth and health: NC treasurer talks new pension strategy, weight-loss drug coverage and more [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• What NC Gov. Josh Stein wants for the state budget vs. what GOP leaders are likely to do [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Polk County wildfires intensify under 'nightmare' conditions, secures FEMA disaster grant [Asheville Citizen-Times]

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

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Published at 5.00am on Monday, March 24, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Weather Briefing for Sunday, March 23, 2025

3/23/2025 04:11:00 AM 2025 Weather , 2025 Wildfires , burn ban , Daily Weather Briefing 0 comments

GENERAL OUTLOOK

Critical fire weather conditions will continue today as dry air and gusty winds develop in the afternoon. Another cold front will cross the region Monday, bringing a chance for a wetting rain. Dry air will return behind the front, with the potential for additional fire weather issues through the rest of the week.

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the south around 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph this afternoon.
..TONIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy with showers likely after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..MONDAY...Mostly cloudy with showers likely in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.
..TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the west 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
..TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s.

NEWS UPDATES

• Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• Polk County wildfires prompt evacuations and air quality alerts, disaster center reopens [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending March 20 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• GOP challenge of 65K ballots goes before NC Court of Appeals. When could race be decided? [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Polk County roads damaged by Helene complicate WNC firefighting efforts [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• National Park Summer Bookings Down Amid DOGE-Fueled Turmoil [ Gizmodo ]

• The Pentagon’s DEI purge: Officials describe a scramble to remove and then restore online content [ AP News ]

Washington Today (3-21-25): Pres. Trump and Def Sec Hegseth say Elon Musk did not see China war plan | C-SPAN

Is the Trump administration's conflict with judges a constitutional crisis? | ABC News

• GOP lawmakers booed at town halls defend hosting events despite advice from leaders [The Hill]

• Ripple, Mt. Gox Founder Bets $1 Billion That He Can Replace the International Space Station [Decrypt]

• Trump envoy dismisses Starmer plan for Ukraine [BBC News]

Weather Briefing for Saturday, March 22, 2025

3/22/2025 04:02:00 AM 2025 Weather , 2025 Wildfires , burn ban , Daily Weather Briefing 0 comments

GENERAL OUTLOOK

Dangerous fire weather conditions continue through the weekend as dry air and gusty winds develop each afternoon. Another cold front crosses the region Monday bringing a chance for rain. Dry air returns behind the front, with the potential for additional fire weather issues afterwards.

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

.TODAY...Sunny. Highs around 60. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
..TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening.
..SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.
..SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy with showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
..MONDAY...Mostly cloudy with showers likely in the morning, then mostly sunny with a chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Macon County remains under a burn ban from state, county and municipal governments until further notice. No outdoor burning is permitted until further notice. Also, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for dangerous fire conditions due to both low levels of relative huimidity and high winds.

Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
335 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY...

Relative humidity values below 20 percent are expected across most of the region today. Winds associated with a dry cold front will increase and become gusty with gusts from 30 to 35 mph across most of the area. Counties along the TN/NC border are not included as fuel moisture and relative humidity values are higher across these locations.

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR ALL BUT THE COUNTIES ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER...

* TIMING...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* HUMIDITY... 15 to 20 percent

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will develop shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

NEWS UPDATES

• Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• Evacuations in place, structures destroyed as three wildfires burn in Polk County [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• NC looks to capitalize on Trump, DOGE efforts to fire federal workers [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• Under the Dome: NC officials respond to Trump’s call to dismantle Education Department [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• 'Leave now': Polk County wildfire triples in 8 hours; fires burn over 2,000 acres [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract | The War Zone [ The War Zone ]

• Elon Musk threatens Pentagon leakers after NYT report on secret China war briefing [ Politico ]

Washington Today (3-21-25): Pres. Trump & Def Sec Hegseth say Elon Musk did not see China war plan | C-SPAN

Popular London airport temporarily closed after fire causes major power outages | ABC News

• A federal lawsuit says the Trump administration has unlawfully shuttered the Voice of America [AP News]

• Solo Bitcoin Miner Hits the Jackpot, Scoring $266K Reward [Decrypt]

• Commerce secretary: No one but ‘fraudsters’ would complain about missed Social Security check [The Hill]

Weather Briefing for Friday, March 21,. 2025

3/21/2025 04:09:00 AM 2025 Weather , 2025 Wildfires , burn ban , Daily Weather Briefing , NOAA 0 comments

GENERAL OUTLOOK

Dangerous fire weather conditions will resume today and tomorrow as dry air and gusty winds develop each afternoon. The next chance for rain will be Monday, when another cold front will cross the region. Dry air will return behind that front, with the potential for additional fire weather issues Tuesday and beyond.

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DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Office Supply. Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at https://franklinofficesupply.com/

GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph in the afternoon.
..TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight.
..SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the west 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph, increasing to 45 mph in the afternoon.
..SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening.
..SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
..SUNDAY NIGHT..Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

We will be under a wind advisory until 8am this morning. Strong winds will continue for most of the county today, especially in the higher elevations. A Burn Ban has been issued by the state and conditions will be damgerous for outdoor burning fot at least the next several days.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FROM THE MOUNTAINS EASTWARD...

Dry air will be in place across the region again on Friday as high pressure settles over the Deep South. The relative humidity is expected to drop down into the 15-25% range by the afternoon from the spine of the Appalachians eastward. Although winds will be much lighter than Thursday, the low relative humidity and dry fuels will increase the fire danger across the area.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme caution. Note! The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a statewide burn ban, effective until further notice. The Commission plans to reevaluate conditions Sunday. The alert is being issued to strongly discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...

* WHAT...Northwest winds from 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected across the North Carolina mountains. Gusts up to 60 mph possible at the highest ridgetops.

* WHERE...The mountains of North Carolina.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM EDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Secure outdoor objects.

NEWS UPDATES

• VA secretary greeted by demonstrators during visit to Asheville [Smoky Mountain News]

• Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• Lawmakers address North Carolina resident's concerns over federal budget cuts at town hall [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• Bipartisan compromises possible? NC lawmakers take closer look at Stein's budget proposals [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• NC Senate moves first to end permit requirement for concealed carry of handguns [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Hurricane Helene killed 248 people, National Hurricane Center report finds [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• The Iran War Plan [ Ken Klippenstein ]

• Musk uses immigration and claims of voter fraud to sell Social Security Administration cuts [ NBC News ]

Washington Today (3-20-25): President Trump signs Executive Order to abolish the Education Dept | C-SPAN

President Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education | C-SPAN

• Stark Economic Divides Continue To Define Support for Trump — But With Notable Gains in New Areas [Governing Magazine]

• Musk Set to Get Access to Top-Secret U.S. Plan for Potential War With China [Decrypt]

• 67,000 white South Africans express interest in Trump’s plan to give them refugee status [AP News]

Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions

3/20/2025 04:16:00 PM 2025 Wildfires , burn ban 0 comments

PRESS RELEASE (03-20-2025
NC DA&CS

RALEIGH – Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, until further notice.

“It is spring wildfire season in North Carolina, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With these ongoing conditions, a statewide burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of wildfires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state. It is imperative that folks adhere to this burn ban until further notice.”

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in all 100 counties in this instance, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. A local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within that 100 feet space.

Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.

The N.C. Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions. Residents with questions regarding a specific county can contact their N.C. Forest Service county ranger or their county fire marshal’s office.

Answers to FAQ

Q: What is open burning?

A: Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal.

Q: May I still use my grill or barbecue?

A: Yes, if no other local ordinances prohibit their use.

Q: How should I report a wildfire?

A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.

Q: How should I report a person who intentionally starts a wildfire?

A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.

Q: My local fire marshal has also issued a burn ban for my county. What does this mean?

A: The burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest service does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and has asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. If a fire within a 100-foot area of a dwelling escapes containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

Q: Are there other instances which impact open burning?

A: Local ordinances and air quality regulations may impact open burning. For instance, outdoor burning is prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts. Learn more about air quality forecasts at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-qualityoutreach-education/air-quality-forecasts.

Q: Can I have a campfire when I go camping?

A: Campfires would be considered open burning and are not exempt from the burn ban. During a burn ban, portable gas stoves or grills are alternate methods for cooking food while camping.

Q: What can I do to protect my house against the risk of wildfire?

A: Learn about wildfire risk assessments and preparedness and prevention plans on the N.C. Forest Service website at https://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_wui.htm or https://www.resistwildfirenc.org/.

-prj-2

Weather Briefing for Thursday, March 20, 2025

3/20/2025 05:16:00 AM 2025 Weather , Daily Weather Briefing 0 comments

GENERAL OUTLOOK

Low relative humidity and occasional gusty winds will enhance the fire danger across the area for much of the next week, with dangerous fire conditions possible Saturday. A cold front crosses the region this morning producing a quick shot of showers, with accumulating high elevation snow showers expected this afternoon into tonight before conditions dry out again Friday morning. The next significant chance for rain will be early next week when another front is expected to impact the region.

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

.TODAY...Partly sunny with rain showers likely this morning, then mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain showers this afternoon. Much cooler with highs in the upper 40s. Temperature falling into the lower 40s this afternoon. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph, increasing to 40 mph this afternoon. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Breezy and much colder with lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.
..FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph in the afternoon.
..FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. West winds around 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph after midnight.
..SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
..SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the upper 30s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

A wind Advisory is in effect today for high winds, especially above 3,000 feet that will help make outdoor burning a dangerous activity. Please do not burn today. There is also a northwest flow snow event developing this afternoon. For further information on those hazards, read below.

...NORTHWEST FLOW SNOW DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...

Northwest flow moisture will develop behind a departing cold front this afternoon into tonight across the western North Carolina mountains. With colder air filtering in behind the front, temperatures will gradually fall near or below freezing this afternoon into this evening. This will allow rain showers to gradually transition to snow showers. Snowfall totals from 1-3 inches will be mainly confined to elevations above 3500 ft, although half an inch to an inch of snow should fall in the valleys along/near the NC/TN border. The highest snowfall amounts are expected to fall across the Smokies, with 4-6 inches expected. Locally higher amounts will be possible, especially above 4,000 ft. Some light snow or flurries may spill into northern Jackson County, southern Haywood County, and southern Buncombe County this evening. However, no accumulations are expected. Snow should taper off prior to daybreak Friday. Additionally, gusty northwest winds will develop behind the front ranging from 35-45 mph today, increasing to 45-50 mph this evening into late tonight. A Wind Advisory is in effect for the North Carolina mountains from 8pm this evening through 8am Friday.

Plan on slippery road conditions. Slow down and use caution while driving as snow will impact the evening commute.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

A cold front will allow gusty winds to develop today, ranging from 25 to 35 mph. Although scattered rain showers are expected to track across western North Carolina later this morning, this will not be enough of a wetting rain to bring relief to dry fuels. Relative humidity will fall below 30% for a few hours later today as drier air filters into the region behind the cold front. Dry fuels, gusty winds, and low relative humidity will all lead to increased Fire Danger today. Thus, a Fire Danger Statement has been issued for the North Carolina Foothills and Piedmont from 4 PM to 8 PM this evening. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme caution.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme caution.

SATURDAY HAZARDS

A combination of low relative humidity, gusty winds, and dry fuels will increase fire danger significantly on Saturday afternoon. If current trends continue, a Red Flag Warning may be needed.

Notice

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