Daily Weather Briefing for Sunday, September 3, 2017

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Warmer and drier high pressure will linger over the region today and tomorrow. Another cold front will approach from the northwest on Tuesday evening and bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the area on Wednesday. Drying high pressure will spread back over the region in the front`s wake on Thursday and linger into the weekend.


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 September 3rd (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 95°F in Franklin in 1975
Lowest Temperature 43°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1987
Greatest Rainfall 2.87 inches in Highlands in 1879


Record weather events for September in Macon County

Highest Temperature 98°F in Franklin on Sept 4, 1975
Lowest Temperature 27°F in Franklin on Sept 30, 1967
Greatest Rainfall 11.87 inches in Highlands on Sept 29, 1967


THREE DAY OUTLOOK



TODAY

Areas of fog in the morning. Cloudy through mid-morning and clearing skies. Temperatures start off in the low to mid-50s and rise to near 70 in Franklin and the main valley and 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Winds out of the northwest, peaking in the mid to late afternoon hours.

TONIGHT

Clear with lows in the mid-50s in the Franklin and area and 5 to 8 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Light winds out of the north.



LABOR DAY

Sunny with highs near 80 to the low 80s in the Franklin area and 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Calm winds in the morning and rising to 5 to 10 mph out of the south in the afternoon.

MONDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows in the mid-50s and light winds out of the north.



TUESDAY

Mostly sunny with highs in the lower 80s in the Franklin area and 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. 30% chance of rain, mainly after 11 am.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near 60. 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms.

HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today.

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 Sep 3 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Irma, located over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean.

1. A tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are conducive for gradual development of this system during the next few days, and a tropical depression is likely to form by the middle to late part of this week while moving westward to west-northwestward at about 10 mph over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...70 percent.



Hurricane Irma Discussion Number 15
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
1100 PM AST Sat Sep 02 2017

The cloud pattern of Irma has not changed significantly in structure today. The eye continues to become apparent and then hide under the convective canopy, and this has been the observed pattern for the past 24 hours or so. Dvorak estimates go up and down with the presence of the eye, but an average of these numbers supports an initial intensity of 95 kt. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter plane will help with the intensity estimate on Sunday.

I hesitate to speculate too much about the environment that Irma is embedded within. All of the standard ingredients necessary for strengthening are forecast to be at least marginally favorable, but none are expected to be hostile for intensification. The NHC forecast, which in fact is similar to the previous one, continues to be a blend of the statistical models and the explosive strengthening shown by the regional hurricane and global models.

The subtropical ridge building to the north of Irma has been steering the hurricane toward the west or 260 degrees at 12 kt. The ridge is forecast to amplify even more, and this flow pattern will force the hurricane to dive west-southwestward for a couple of days. Irma should then begin to gain latitude once it reaches the southwestern edge of the ridge in about 3 days. The confidence in the track forecast is high for the next 72 hours since all of the reliable guidance is basically on top of each other. After 3 days, when the hurricane is forecast to be approaching the northern Leeward Islands, the guidance envelope spreads out and becomes bounded by the southernmost tracks of the HWRF, HCCA and the ECMWF models, and by the northernmost GFS and UK models. The confidence beyond 3 days is then much lower. Tonight's NHC forecast was adjusted a just little to the south of the previous one due to another small shift of the guidance envelope. The forecast is basically on top of the multi-model consensus TVCX.

While Irma is currently a small hurricane, the size guidance suggests it should grow in size during the next 72 h. This will affect how soon watches may be issued for portions of the Leeward and Virgin Islands.


KEY MESSAGES:

1. Irma is expected to be a major hurricane when it moves closer to the Lesser Antilles early next week, producing rough surf and rip currents. Irma could also cause dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall impacts on some islands, although it is too soon to specify where and when those hazards could occur. Residents in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of Irma through the weekend and listen to any advice given by local officials.

2. It is much too early to determine what direct impacts Irma will have on the Bahamas and the continental United States. Regardless, everyone in hurricane-prone areas should ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place, as we are now near the peak of the season.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 03/0300Z 18.3N 46.2W 95 KT 110 MPH
12H 03/1200Z 17.8N 48.0W 95 KT 110 MPH
24H 04/0000Z 17.2N 50.1W 100 KT 115 MPH
36H 04/1200Z 16.7N 52.3W 105 KT 120 MPH
48H 05/0000Z 16.5N 54.5W 110 KT 125 MPH
72H 06/0000Z 17.7N 59.3W 110 KT 125 MPH
96H 07/0000Z 19.9N 64.5W 115 KT 130 MPH
120H 08/0000Z 22.5N 69.5W 115 KT 130 MPH


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 6:42 a.m.
Sunrise 7:08 a.m.
Sun transit 1:33 p.m.
Sunset 7:57 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:23 p.m.


Moon

Moonset 4:25 a.m.
Moonrise 6:30 p.m.
Moon transit 11:54 p.m.
Moonset 5:22 a.m. tomorrow


Phase of the Moon on September 3, 2017: Waxing Gibbous with 93% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Full Moon on September 6, 2017 at 3:03 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

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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 4:20 am on September 3, 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.