Daily Weather Briefing for Sunday, August 20, 2017

ECLIPSE TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS

Please be careful on the roads today. Traffic could be higher than normal as eclipse-watchers may start arriving early for Monday's solar eclipse. Be alert for drivers who may suddenly switch lanes without warning or stop on the road. Increase your travel distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

LOCAL OUTLOOK

High pressure will build across the forecast area and bring relatively dry conditions through Sunday. Then a warming and moistening airmass will build in, bringing hot and humid afternoons Monday through Wednesday. A cold front is expected to pass through Wednesday night and usher in cooler and drier air that will last into next weekend.

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 after 3 pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind.

Accuweather

High 82° Low 65° An afternoon thunderstorm

Intellicast/Weather Underground are identical

High 84° Low 63° Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Rainfall: 0 in.

Weather Bug

High 84° Low 62° Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around 5 mph.

Macon Media

Mostly sunny with a gradual increase in clouds as the day progresses. Temperatures will begin the day in the mid-60s, climb to near the mid-80s by 1 pm, expect a potential 5 to 8-degree drop near the time of totality at 2:36 pm, then temperatures will climb to the upper 80s by 4 pm in the Franklin and Otto areas in the main valley. Higher elevations will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler. Winds will be light and variable and 20% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 pm.

As of 4 am Sunday, the traffic conditions for later today and into tomorrow are still an unknown. If possible, leave for work or play early on the 21st and always let family members and friends know what your plans are. Be safe and have fun!


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 20th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 99°F in Franklin in 1983
Lowest Temperature 48°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1943
Greatest Rainfall 2.41 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

Morning

Patchy fog in the morning with temperatures starting out in the mid-60s and calm winds early, then very light winds from the southeast. Cloudy with skies clearing before noon.

Afternoon

Clear skies with a gradual increase to partly cloudy conditions and highs near the mid-80s in the Franklin, Otto and main valley of the county. Temperatures 5 to 10 degrees cooler at the higher elevations. Relative humidity will be in the 4-% range for most of the afternoon and begin increasing toward 6 pm.


TONIGHT

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




MONDAY

Mostly sunny with a gradual increase in clouds as the day progresses. Temperatures will begin the day in the mid-60s, climb to near the mid-80s by 1 pm, expect a 5 to 8-degree drop near the time of totality at 2:36 pm, then temperatures will climb to the upper 80s by 4 pm in the Franklin and Otto areas in the main valley. Higher elevations will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler. Winds will be light and variable and 20% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 pm.

MONDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows in the mid-60s and calm winds. 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight.



TUESDAY

Mostly sunny with highs near the mid to upper 80s. 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 9 am.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows near the mid-60s.

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 Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Sun Aug 20 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory on Harvey, which has degenerated into a tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea.

1. Disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the central Caribbean Sea are associated with the remnants of Harvey. Unfavorable upper-level winds and dry air are expected to inhibit development today. Environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for regeneration by Monday when the system moves west-northwestward over the northwest Caribbean Sea, and interests in northern Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, and the Yucatan peninsula should monitor the progress of this system.

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

2. A trough of low pressure located a couple of hundred miles north of the Leeward Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are not expected to be conducive for development of this system during the next couple of days while it moves west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph. Conditions could become slightly more conducive for development once the system is near the northern Bahamas or Florida later this week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.

3. A large area of cloudiness and disorganized thunderstorms located about 1000 miles east of the Leeward Islands is associated with a trough of low pressure. The system is currently embedded in a dry air mass, and upper-level winds are expected to become too strong to support development in a couple of days. Therefore, tropical cyclone formation is not likely while this system moves northwestward at about 15 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...10 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 6:31 a.m.
Sunrise 6:57 a.m.
Sun transit 1:37 p.m.
Sunset 8:16 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:42 p.m.

Moon

Moonrise 5:36 a.m.
Moon transit 12:40 p.m.
Moonset 7:38 p.m.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: New Moon on August 21, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
(maximum eclipse will occur precisely at the new moon)

Phase of the Moon on August 20, 2017: Waning Crescent with 2% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.



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 4:33 am on August 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.