Daily Weather Forecast for Monday, August 21, 2017

ECLIPSE TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS

Please be careful on the roads today. Traffic may be higher than normal as eclipse-watchers are here for the solar eclipse, and last-minute arrivals may clog the roadways. 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. If you do happen to be driving between 2:30 and 2:40 pm, please be careful, turn on your headlights and increase your following distance. Motorists may stop in the roadway to look at the eclipse. Some of them may even not be aware that we're having one today.

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Typical late summer conditions will persist ahead of an approaching cold front, which will reach our area Wednesday. A large region of surface high pressure will then gradually build into the area late this week through the weekend, bringing unseasonably cool and dry air.

Due to today being a very busy day, this weather post will be short.



ECLIPSE SPONSORS



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.


Carrion Tree Service

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718. They are located at 120 Depot Street.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.



Weather Almanac for August 21st (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 97°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1963
Lowest Temperature 43°F in Highlands in 1918
Greatest Rainfall 1.54 inches in Highlands in 1949

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



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. Partly cloudy with skies clearing before noon. Temperatures will reach the low 80s by noon with relative humidity dropping from near 100% at 6 am to 60% or so by noon. It will feel a little muggy.

Afternoon

Mostly clear skies with a gradual increase to party cloudy conditions (20-30% coverage by the time of totality) 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 50-60% range for most of the afternoon and begin increasing toward 6 pm. Temperatures will probably drop 4 to 8 degrees during totality.


TONIGHT

Mostly clear with lows near the mid-60s and calm winds. Patchy fog is expected to form near midnight.


HAZARDS

Isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. The primary hazards will be gusty winds, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rain.

The best chance will be Wednesday as a cold front moves across the region. A few storms could be strong, especially Wednesday, with gusty winds, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rain.

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


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.


Sun and Moon

Sun

Begin civil twilight 6:32 a.m.
Sunrise 6:58 a.m.
Sun transit 1:37 p.m.
Sunset 8:14 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:41 p.m.

Moon

Moonrise 6:42 a.m.
Moon transit 1:35 p.m.
Moonset 8:21 p.m.
Phase of the Moon on August 21, 2017: New Moon at 2:30 p.m. (local daylight time)

A total solar eclipse will occur from 2:35:25 pm to 2:37:55 pm
(times will vary according to location)



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 4:35 am on August 21, 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.