Daily Weather Briefing for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

LOCAL OUTLOOK

High-pressure ridging down the Appalachians will keep our area less warm than normal through the end of the work week. Moisture will also steadily increase atop the region as the remnants of Harvey move into the Ohio Valley.



Five Day Precipitation Forecast

The Weather Prediction Center out of College Park, Maryland is forecasting our region to receive between 3 and 4 inches of rain from the remnants of HARVEY by Labor Day. While that does not compare with what Texas and other locations in the Gulf have received, it is probably enough to cause some limited flooding in locations that have poor drainage. The period of heaviest rain will probably be Friday when a couple of inches of rain is currently expected to fall. If the situation and forecast changes, Macon Media will post additional updates.


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 30th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 92°F in Franklin in 1948
Lowest Temperature 41°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1968
Greatest Rainfall 7.76 inches in Highlands in 1940


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 mid-70s in Franklin and the main valley and 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Rain chances will increase from 10% at 6 am to near 60% at 6 pm. Rainfall accumulations are expected to be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch during this time period.


TONIGHT

Cloudy with fog expected to develop overnight. Lows in the mid-60s and calm winds. Rain is likely with rainfall accumulations between a quarter and half an inch expected.



THURSDAY

Periods of rain with highs in the mid-70s in the Franklin area and 5 to 8 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. 60% chance of rain.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Cloudy with lows in the lower 60s and calm winds. 60% chance of rain.



FRIDAY

Cloudy with highs in the low to mid-70s. 60% chance of rain, which could be heavy at times.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Cloudy with lows in the upper 50s and lower 60s. 70% chance of rain, which could be heavy at times.

HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today. The remnants of Harvey are expected to arrive in the region in the next few days and the current thinking is that we could receive 3 or 4 inches of rain out of the event.

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 Wed Aug 30 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 just offshore of the coast of southwestern Louisiana.

1. A low-pressure area is located just west of the Cabo Verde Islands. This system has changed little in organization over the past several hours, but any significant increase in the associated thunderstorm activity would result in the formation of a tropical depression within the next day or two. The system is forecast to move west-northwestward to westward at 15 to 20 mph over the tropical Atlantic during the next several days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...high...90 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...90 percent.




Tropical Storm Harvey Discussion Number 39
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092017
1000 PM CDT Tue Aug 29 2017

Latest radar imagery shows that heavy rainfall continues over far eastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. Outer bands are also producing heavy rain farther east along portions of the northern Gulf coast. However, rains have begun to diminish over the Greater Houston area, where some locations have received more than 50 inches during this historic event.

Harvey took an eastward jog this evening, but recent satellite images suggest that a northeastward motion has resumed. The storm is expected to move north-northeastward to northeastward between a ridge over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and a trough over the east-central United States. This motion should bring the center onshore over southwestern Louisiana early Wednesday, and into the Tennessee Valley region later this week. The global models show the system becoming an open trough near the Ohio Valley or Appalachians in 4 to 5 days. The latest NHC track forecast has been shifted eastward partially due to the more eastward initial position.

There has been little overall change to Harvey's convective structure since the previous advisory, and the initial intensity remains 45 kt, which was supported by the earlier aircraft data. Little change in strength is anticipated before Harvey reaches the Louisiana coast. After that time, gradual weakening should occur while Harvey moves farther inland.

The latest forecast required an extension of the tropical storm warning eastward to Grand Isle, Louisiana.

Key Messages:

1. Ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding will continue across southeastern Texas. Additional rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected to the north and east of Houston from far east Texas into southwestern Louisiana. Isolated storm totals have reached 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area. Please heed the advice of local officials. Do not attempt to travel if you are in a safe place, and do not drive into flooded roadways. Refer to products from your local National Weather Service office and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center for more information on the flooding hazard. A summary of rainfall totals compiled by the Weather Prediction Center can be found at: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html

2. The flood threat has spread farther east, and additional rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are expected in southern Louisiana into coastal Mississippi and Alabama. These rains will spread north by mid to late week, with rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches in portions of Arkansas and the Tennessee Valley. Please heed the advice of local officials and refer to products from your local National Weather Service office and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center for more information on the flooding hazard in these areas.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 30/0300Z 29.0N 93.6W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 30/1200Z 29.8N 93.0W 40 KT 45 MPH...INLAND
24H 31/0000Z 31.1N 92.3W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
36H 31/1200Z 32.5N 91.2W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
48H 01/0000Z 34.3N 89.5W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
72H 02/0000Z 36.8N 85.9W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/INLAND
96H 03/0000Z 39.0N 81.5W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/INLAND
120H 04/0000Z...DISSIPATED

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 6:38 a.m.
Sunrise 7:04 a.m.
Sun transit 1:34 p.m.
Sunset 8:04 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:30 p.m.

Moon

Moonset 12:30 a.m.
Moonrise 2:34 p.m.
Moon transit 7:53 p.m.
Moonset 1:10 a.m. on following day


Phase of the Moon on August 29, 2017: First Quarter at 4:13 a.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. 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 3:53 am on August 30, 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.