Daily Weather Briefing for Saturday, August 19, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Last night, A few people gathered in Rankin Square and on the sidewalk next to Rankin Square, where the local memorial to local soldiers who fought in the Civil War stands, with Confederate Battle Flags, and an American flag. More details are posted on the blog. [LINK]

ECLIPSE TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS

Please be careful on the roads today. Traffic may be higher than normal as eclipse-watchers may start arriving early for Monday's solar eclipse.

The Macon Media Communications Plan for the solar eclipse is posted on the blog. [LINK]

LOCAL OUTLOOK

High pressure will build across the forecast area and bring relatively drier conditions over the weekend. A warming and moistening airmass will return Monday before cool dry air works in behind a frontal passage Wed night.

Eclipse Day Forecast (August 19th Edition)

This is a collection of forecasts for the day of the eclipse for the Franklin area.

National Weather Service

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10 am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind.

Accuweather

High 86° Low 65° A thunderstorm around

Intellicast/Weather Underground are identical

High 84° Low 65° Morning sunshine followed by isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Rainfall: 0.03 in.

Weather Bug

High 86° Low 61° Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Macon Media

Highs Franklin area mid-80s. Nantahala, Highlands and higher elevation will be in the 70s. Skies partly to mostly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon are possible, mainly after totality. Coverage will be in a hit or miss summer pattern. Most places will be clear during totality. A stray cloud cannot be ruled out. I'm feeling much better about our chances. *crosses fingers*

When you look at the forecast over the week, try to keep in mind what this may mean for traffic conditions. If possible, leave for work or play early on the 21st and always let family members and friends know what your plans are.


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 19th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 95°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1999
Lowest Temperature 48°F in Highlands in 1919
Greatest Rainfall 2.19 inches in Highlands in 1935

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 through mid morning, then clearing with highs near the mid to upper 80s in the Franklin and Otto areas, Highlands, and the higher elevations will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler. Winds are expected to be calm.


TONIGHT

Mostly clear with lows near the lower 60s and calm winds.




SUNDAY

Sunny with highs near the mid-80s and variable light winds. The Highlands area and higher elevations should be in the 70s.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows in the mid-60s and calm winds.



MONDAY

Mostly sunny with highs in the mid-80s and variable light winds. 20% chance of showers, mainly after 10 am.

MONDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows in the 60s. 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms.

HAZARDS

No hazardous weather expected.

Traffic should continue to increase as eclipse spectators arrive in the area or pass through to their final destinations. Be careful when out on the roads and drive defensively because these people don't necessarily know the roads or where they're going. Increase your following distance and be cautious at intersections or where traffic merges.

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 Storm HARVEY has formed just east of the Windward Islands and will probably arrive at the Yucatan Peninsula late Tuesday, probably still as a Tropical Storm. Remnants of this storm should not be a threat the US mainland.

The tropics are starting to get on with business as the peak of hurricane season is approaching. This usually occurs between late August and late September, with the median peak date being September 10th.


Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Sat Aug 19 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Harvey, located over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

1. A trough of low pressure located about 400 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are expected to be only marginally conducive for development during the next few days while this system moves west-northwestward at about 20 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...medium...40 percent.

2. A tropical wave located over the eastern Atlantic Ocean about midway between the Lesser Antilles and Africa is producing some shower and thunderstorm activity. Environmental conditions appear somewhat conducive for gradual development over the next few days while the system moves west-northwestward to northwestward at about 20 mph, but upper-level winds are forecast to become unfavorable by the middle of next week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...30 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 6:30 a.m.
Sunrise 6:57 a.m.
Sun transit 1:37 p.m.
Sunset 8:17 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:44 p.m.

Moon

Moonrise 4:31 a.m.
Moon transit 11:42 a.m.
Moonset 6:50 p.m.

Closest Primary Moon Phase: New Moon on August 21, 2017 at 2:36 p.m. (maximum eclipse will occur precisely at the new moon)

Phase of the Moon on August 19, 2017: Waning Crescent with 6% 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

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 4:41 am on August 19, 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.