Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, August 31, 2017

LOCAL OUTLOOK

High-pressure ridging down the Appalachians from the north will keep our area cooler 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 and pass through the county. Warm high pressure will return behind Harvey during the latter half of Labor Day weekend.

Remnants of HARVEY

It now appears that Macon County will be in the dry slot as Harvey passes by to our north. Macon County will probably not receive more than 3 inches of rain today, tonight and tomorrow. Some locations may receive more if there are multiple rounds of thunderstorms. Widespread flooding is not expected and only locations that have poor drainage will be impacted.

If you are out driving in one of the periods of heavy rain, or shortly afterward, please be cautious as there may be areas with excess water in the roadway, making it more likely to hydroplane and lose control of your automobile. Reduce your speed and following distances if you have to travel today and tomorrow.


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 31st (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 93°F in Franklin in 1957
Lowest Temperature 40°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1946
Greatest Rainfall 4.11 inches in Highlands in 1893


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 heavy rain at times

Patchy fog and rainy today, with some thunderstorms likely. Highs in the mid-70s in the Franklin area and 5 to 8 degrees cooler in the Highlands area and the higher elevations. 100% chance of rain at some point in the entire county today. Rainfall amounts from 6 am to 6 pm will be between half an inch to an inch, with more in locations that see multiple rounds of thunderstorm activity.


TONIGHT heavy rain, some thunderstorms

Cloudy and foggy overnight with lows in the low to mid-60s and winds 5 to 10 mph from the southeast. Near 100% chance of rain with rainfall amounts around an inch expected. Some locations could see more.



FRIDAY heavy rain at times, strong thunderstorms possible

Cloudy with highs near the mid-70s in the Franklin area and 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Winds 5 to 10 mph from the south. Rainfall chances are expected to be around 70% with rainfall amounts around half an inch, with more possible in locations that see thunderstorms activity. Some thunderstorms may be strong or severe.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near 60 and wind 5 to 10 mph from the south. 40% chance of rain.



SATURDAY

Partly sunny with highs in the mid-70s. 30% chance of showers, mainly before 3 pm.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows in the mid to upper 50s.

HAZARDS

Rain and thunderstorms are expected today. The rain could be heavy at times. As the ground becomes saturated, it is possible some flooding could occur tomorrow. Some thunderstorms activity is expected and some of it could be severe tomorrow. 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.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for today and tomorrow for the rainfall and storms we will be seeing as the remnants of Harvey pass through the area. It is posted below:

..TODAY...Heavy rain possible. The remnants of Tropical Cyclone
Harvey will spread moisture into the area Thursday through Friday,
resulting in a threat for locally heavy rain.

..FRIDAY...Severe weather with flash flooding possible. The remnants
of Harvey will cross the Tennessee Valley, continuing to spread deep
moisture and shear across the area. This may lead to localized flash
flooding as well as an isolated threat for severe thunderstorms
capable of producing strong winds.

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 Thu Aug 31 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center has issued its last advisory on Tropical Depression Harvey, located over central Louisiana. Future advisories on Harvey will be issued by the NOAA Weather Prediction Center beginning at 4 AM CDT. The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Irma, located over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

1. An area of low pressure could form over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico by the weekend. Development, if any, of this system is expected to be slow to occur as the low moves slowly northward. If this system does develop, it could bring additional rainfall to portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts. However, any rainfall forecast is uncertain at this time range, and it is too soon to determine any specific impacts. Interests in these areas should monitor the progress of this system for the next few days.

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



Tropical Depression Harvey Discussion Number 43
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092017
1000 PM CDT Wed Aug 30 2017

Harvey has continued to weaken since this afternoon as the center has moved farther inland over Louisiana. Surface observations indicate that winds along the northern Gulf coast have decreased, and the system became a tropical depression in the 0000 UTC intermediate advisory. Harvey should continue to gradually weaken as the circulation moves farther inland, and the cyclone is expected to dissipate over the Ohio Valley within 72 hours.

Harvey is moving north-northeastward at about 8 kt. The cyclone should turn northeastward around the northwestern portion of a mid-level ridge that extends westward from the western Atlantic across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This steering pattern is forecast to take Harvey across the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys during the next couple of days.

It should be noted that despite Harvey's weakening, heavy rainfall and flooding are forecast to occur along the path of Harvey during the next few days, but it's faster forward speed should keep subsequent rainfall amounts well below what occurred along the northwest Gulf coast.

This is the last advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on Harvey. Future information on this system can be found in public advisories issued by the Weather Prediction Center beginning at 4 AM CDT under AWIPS header TCPAT4, WMO header WTNT34 KWNH, and on the web at http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov. Additional information can also be found in products issued by your local National Weather Service office.

The National Hurricane Center would like to thank all the men and women that have worked countless hours at local National Weather Service Forecast offices along the Gulf coast providing life-saving warnings and information during the past week, on top of preparing their family and homes for the storm. The center would also like to acknowledge the dedication of the Air Force and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft crews that flew numerous missions into Harvey. In addition, NHC thanks the staff at the Weather Prediction Center, who led efforts to coordinate forecasts of the historic flooding event, NWS River Forecast Centers that provided flood guidance, and the Storm Prediction Center, that coordinated tornado forecasts.

Key Messages:

1. Ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding will continue across southeastern Texas. While the threat of heavy rains has ended in the Houston/Galveston area, catastrophic and life-threatening flooding will continue in and around Houston, Beaumont/Port Arthur, and eastward into southwest Louisiana for the rest of the week. 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 north and east, and additional rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with isolated amounts up to 10 inches are expected from southwestern Louisiana and the adjacent border of eastern Texas northeastward into western Kentucky through Friday. 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.

3. The Weather Prediction Center will issue public advisories on Harvey as long as it remains a rainfall threat. These advisories can continue to be found on the National Hurricane Center website and at http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 31/0300Z 31.7N 92.3W 30 KT 35 MPH
12H 31/1200Z 32.8N 91.4W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
24H 01/0000Z 34.5N 89.7W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
36H 01/1200Z 35.9N 87.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
48H 02/0000Z 37.0N 85.7W 20 KT 25 MPH...INLAND
72H 03/0000Z...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.


Friday, September 8th at 1:00 pm

BUTTERFLY WALK AT HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL STATION

James T. Costa, Ph.D. will lead a free nature walk with an emphasis on butterflies at 1 pm Friday Sept. 8 at the Highlands Biological Station, 265 N. 6th St. Highlands. He is Director of the research station and a biology professor at Western Carolina University. For those who want to carpool from Franklin, we will meet at Bi-Lo's parking lot at 12:15 pm. Please email Renee at Rubinlive@gmail.com if you are interested so you may be informed of any changes due to weather.
In addition, Dr. Costa will speak at 6:30 pm Sept. 8 at City Lights in Sylva about his new book, Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory.

The Future Farmers of America are selling Raffle Tickets
More information is posted below:

Support Franklin FFA (Future Farmers of America)
!!! RAFFLE TICKETS !!!!

$5.00 a ticket or 5 for $20.00

Winner announced & does not be present at The Macon County Fair 2017
September 13-16, 2017 at The Wayne Proffitt Agriculture Center - Macon County Fairgrounds, 1436 Georgia Rd, Franklin NC 28734
Raffle is for Adventure Package, valued at $300.00...

Items are:
1. Cargo Carrier ( donated by Ultimate Truck Accessories) - can be used atop an SUV/Van or rear hitch
2. Foldable Camp Chairs in Camo with Table
3. Burn Fire Log (Swedish Flame Torch)
4. Lighter
5. Heavy Duty Flashlight
6. "Over the flame" cooking basket
7. Roasting Sticks
8. Bug Spray

We thank Appalachian Ace Hardware for their support.

*All proceeds go to Franklin FFA & FHS Ag Dept*
Contact Gregory Charles Spala via FB or 813-838-7693 text or call
Or Lori Spala via FB or 813-503-2160


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 6:40 a.m.
Sunrise 7:06 a.m.
Sun transit 1:34 p.m.
Sunset 8:01 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:27 p.m.

Moon

Moonset 1:53 a.m.
Moonrise 4:16 p.m.
Moon transit 9:28 p.m.
Moonset 2:40 a.m. tomorrow morning

Phase of the Moon on August 31, 2017: Waxing Gibbous with 71% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: First Quarter on August 29, 2017 at 4:13 a.m. (local daylight time)





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 4:52 am on August 31, 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.