Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, July 20, 2017

LOCAL OUTLOOK

An upper-level ridge will build over our region from the west through the end of the work week bringing hot temperatures and isolated showers and thunderstorms each day. A broad upper-level trough develops over the weekend and into early next week and is expected to bring cooler temperatures.

Heat index values may rise to uncomfortable levels through Sunday and those who participate in outdoor activities are advised to take extra care that they do not overheat. Additional information has been posted in the Hazards section of the daily briefing.


WEATHER SPONSOR


Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for the month.  They have all your masonry products (block, mortars, tools), plus feature Belgrade Pavers and Sakrete Products.  Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC.  

Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

Their phone number is 828.524.8545, all are welcome, let them help you with your next project.  


Weather Almanac for July 20th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 96°F in Franklin in 1954
Lowest Temperature 46°F in Highlands in 1904
Greatest Rainfall 2.58inches in Nantahala in 1971

Record weather events for July in Macon County

Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin in 1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands in 1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands in 1879


THREE DAY OUTLOOK




TODAY isolated strong to severe thunderstorms possible

Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing. Highs near 90 and light winds from the northwest. Slight chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows in the mid-60s and calm winds.



FRIDAY

Mostly sunny with highs near 90 and variable light winds.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows in the upper 60s and calm winds.



SATURDAY

Mostly sunny with highs near 90. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows near 70. Chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms.

HAZARDS

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop again across the area this afternoon and evening. The main threats will be from cloud to ground lightning and locally heavy rainfall. However, a few storms could become briefly severe, with damaging winds being the primary threat.

It is becoming more likely that our region will be experiencing a heat wave later this week. Though conditions will not be as extreme in Macon County as they will be in Tennessee or Georgia and the Upstate, it will be more uncomfortable than is normal for us. More information on the possible heat wave and precautions that are advised have been posted below, and you may refer to the NOAA Heat Safety Page at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/ for more detailed information:

...Heat Wave Developing this Week through the Weekend...

A strong ridge of high pressure will be in place from Wednesday through Saturday. During this time, temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s combined with increasing humidity levels will allow heat index values to climb to uncomfortable levels. Heat index values on Wednesday will range from the upper 80s and low 90s, Thursday low to mid-90s, Friday and Saturday the low to mid-90s, and Sunday in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Please take the following heat safety precautions:

1) When outdoors, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade as often as possible.

2) Check up on the elderly, sick and those without air conditioning.

3) Never leave kids or pets unattended in vehicles. Remember, Beat the Heat, Check the Backseat.

4) Limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially during the afternoon, find shade and stay hydrated.

The upper ridge will break down by late this weekend allowing for increasing coverage of showers and thunderstorms. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio and other local media for further details or updates.

For more information on dealing with excessive heat, please check out http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/

As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN



TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

For the North Atlantic...The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.


MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphic. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.




September 27th, WEDNESDAY

HOSPICE HOUSE FOUNDATION OF WNC

PEACEFUL JOURNEY
3rd annual charity dining event
hosted by RISTORANTE PAOLETTI at 440 Main Street in Highlands

For information, visit http://hhfwnc.org/peaceful-journey/


National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South

Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)

Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.

Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future

Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.



Astronomy

Twilight Begins: 6:05 am
Sunrise: 6:34 am
Sunset 8:45 pm
Twilight Ends: 9:14 pm

Day Length (Sunrise to Sunset) 14 h 11 m
(2 mins shorter than yesterday)


Moon Phase: Waning Crescent with 11% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.

Moonrise 3:46 a.m.
Moonset 6:06 p.m.


Sky Guides for this week

Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine


Earth Sky has an article on the eclipses of 2017. [LINK]

Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]

Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia


Published at 4:04 am on July 20, 2017

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety

Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Weather Prediction Center.