Daily Weather Briefing for Tuesday, August 8, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

The Franklin Town Council met last night. Video and supporting documents from that meeting can be seen at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/franklin-town-board-august-2017-meeting.html

Mission Health announced it was receiving a $1.25 Million Grant from The Duke Endowment to integrate behavioral health care together with primary care throughout western North Carolina, noting an increased need for mental health service over the last few years. Read the press release at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/mission-health-awarded-125-million.html

The National Forests in North Carolina sent out a news release regarding the anticipated increase in traffic in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests due to people visiting the forest to get a glimpse of the solar eclipse and concerns for visitor safety. Read it and follow the links provided for more information at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/solar-eclipse-expected-to-cause.html


LOCAL OUTLOOK

A cold front will sink through the area today. A passing upper-level disturbance will bring additional rounds of rainfall along the front later this morning, and scattered showers and storms are expected to develop in the afternoon. The front is expected to stall again across our region and remain through the end of the week, with deep moisture bringing periods of heavy rain.


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 August 8th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 98°F in Franklin in 1980
Lowest Temperature 44°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1948
Greatest Rainfall 2.24 inches in Highlands in 1974

Record weather events for August in Macon County

Highest Temperature 99°F in Franklin on Aug 9, 1980
Lowest Temperature 40°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Aug 29, 1968
Greatest Rainfall 9.68 inches in Highlands on Aug 13, 1940


THREE DAY OUTLOOK



TODAY

Patchy fog in the morning. Cloudy with highs in the 70s and variable light winds. Rain is likely today, with an increased chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch are expected, with higher accumulations possible locations that see multiple heavy rain bands and thunderstorms.


TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows in the 60s (Highlands, Nantahala, and higher elevations will see the upper 50s). Chances of rain drop off as the evening progresses.




WEDNESDAY

Mostly cloudy with highs in the 70s and calm winds in the morning, then from the east in the afternoon. Moderate rain chances. 40% in the Franklin area and 60% chance in the Nantahala and Highlands area. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows in the 60s in the main valley (Otto, Franklin, and Cowee) and the upper 50s and lower 60s elsewhere in the county. Light winds out of the east and rain chances around 30%.



THURSDAY

Mostly cloudy with highs in the 70s with rain chances increasing as the day progresses, becoming likely after 4 pm.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows ranging from the upper 50s to the mid-60s depending on elevation. Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly before 9 pm.

HAZARDS

Scattered to numerous rain bands and thunderstorms are expected to cross the area today. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible. The main hazards will be heavy rainfall, strong gusty winds, hail, and frequent lightning. My suspicion is that most of the storms will pass to our south, but since the National Weather Service and computer models show storms crossing the county today, I have included it in the briefing.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook that includes Macon County and a copy is posted below:

..TUESDAY...Heavy rain possible. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected again. This will keep the threat for heavy rainfall in place across the area.

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

We are now in the time frame of where storms that develop in the Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Basin could impact our view of the solar eclipse on August 21st.
Tropical Storm FRANKLIN is over the Yucatan Peninsula this morning and will likely cross into the Gulf of Mexico and then make land fall in Central Mexico. It is possible that moisture from the remnants of this system could bring rain to our region sometime in the next 5 to 10-day range.

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Tue Aug 8 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Franklin, located inland over the Yucatan peninsula about 45 miles north of Chetumal, Mexico.

1. A trough of low pressure located about 900 miles east of the Lesser Antilles continues to produce disorganized cloudiness and showers. Development of this system is not expected during the next few days due to unfavorable environmental conditions. However, some development of this system is possible by late weekend while the system moves west-northwestward at about 15 mph over the western Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.


ECLIPSE EVENTS (events listed here are paid sponsorships)

RABUN COUNTY

Rabun County, Georgia has a county-wide “Outasight” eclipse viewing party planned for August 21st at the Rabun Gap Nacoochee School. More information may be found at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/georgias-total-solar-eclipse-outasight-viewing-party-at-rgns-tickets-36172624293

Other events happening in and near Rabun County the weekend of the eclipse can be found on the Explore Rabun website at http://explorerabun.com/events-happening-total-solar-eclipse-rabun-county-georgia/

BRYSON CITY ECLIPSE WEEKEND

Bryson City invites you to a weekend of celebrating the eclipse. To find out more information, visit their page at https://www.greatsmokies.com/2017eclipse.html

Bryson City is recommended by TravelChannel.com as the spot in North Carolina to watch the eclipse.


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.



Sun and Moon

Sun

Begin civil twilight 6:21 a.m.
Sunrise 6:48 a.m.
Sun transit 1:39 p.m.
Sunset 8:30 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:57 p.m.

Moon

Moonrise 8:34 p.m. yesterday
Moon transit 2:01 a.m.
Moonset 7:33 a.m.
Moonrise 9:12 p.m.

Closest Primary Moon Phase: Full Moon on August 7, 2017 at 2:11 p.m. (local daylight time)

Phase of the Moon on August 8, 2017: Waning Gibbous with 99% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
The next New Moon will occur during a total solar eclipse at 2:36:40 pm on August 21, 2017.


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

I will be posting an August Update in the next few days on our patreon campaign, which has reached 25 people who have pledged $294. Payout is on August 6th.

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. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

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 4:17 am on August 8, 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.