Daily Weather Briefing for Wednesday, September 6, 2017

**note** This briefing has been altered since it was published at 4 am. A new cone of uncertainty for Hurrican IRMA has been added that shows a significant move east for the storm. --Bobby


COLONIAL PIPELINE UPDATE (Both pipelines operational)

Colonial Pipeline’s Line 1 was restarted between Houston and Lake Charles Tuesday afternoon.

From Colonial Pipeline:

Line 2 was restarted on Monday, September 4.
Colonial is working closely with our customers to manage product shipments.



LOCAL OUTLOOK

A cold front will push through the area today, with widespread showers and thunderstorms expected through this afternoon. Dry, cool high pressure will spread back over the region in the wake of the front on Thursday and linger into the weekend. Moisture will increase again early next week as remnants of Hurricane Irma move toward the Southeast.



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 6th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 97°F in Franklin in 1954
Lowest Temperature 38°F in Highlands in 1997
Greatest Rainfall 4.59 inches in Highlands in 1949


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 showers and thunderstorms decrease

Areas of fog in the morning. The day will start off cloudy but should clear off to partly cloudy in the afternoon. Highs are expected to be near 70 in the Franklin and main valley areas with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations with mountain peaks and the Nantahala Gorge staying below 60. Winds will be generally light from the northwest, peaking around 5 to 10 mph in the late afternoon. Rain showers and thunderstorms are likely before noon, with coverage decreasing and showers ending before 6 pm. Rainfall amounts should be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch.

TONIGHT a taste of fall and cold northwest wind

Mostly clear with lows near the upper 40s in the Franklin area and 5 to 8 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest will make it see about 5 degrees cooler at times.



THURSDAY a touch of fall with a cool wind out of the northwest

Sunny with highs in the Franklin area near 70 and 5 to 10 degrees (or more) cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Calm winds early rising to 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest by mid-morning.

THURSDAY NIGHT more chilly fall-like weather

Mostly clear with lows in the mid-40s in the Franklin area and 5 to 8 degrees cooler in the Highlands area and the higher elevations. Winds out of the north and northwest calming before midnight.



FRIDAY our preview of fall continues

Sunny with highs ranging from the 60s to the 70s.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows ranging from 40 to 50.

HAZARDS

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening as a cold front moves through. Cloud to ground lightning, brief heavy rain, and gusty winds are the main threats.

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 Sep 6 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Irma, located very near the northern Leeward Islands, on Tropical Storm Jose over the central Atlantic Ocean, and on Tropical Depression Thirteen, located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.



Hurricane Irma Discussion Number 28
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
1100 PM AST Tue Sep 05 2017

The satellite view of Irma remains quite spectacular, with an extremely well-defined eye and a large, symmetrical CDO. Reports from NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the central pressure had fallen at about 1 mb per hour since this morning, although very recently the deepening trend has leveled off. Based on SFMR-observed winds from the aircraft, the current intensity remains at 160 kt. The Meteo-France radar imagery suggests a concentric eyewall structure and observations from the aircraft hinted at a secondary wind maximum. If an eyewall replacement becomes more definitive, this would likely halt additional strengthening, and could even lead to some weakening. The official intensity forecast is near or above the model consensus. Given the favorable atmospheric and oceanic environment, Irma is likely to remain a Category 4 or 5 hurricane for the next few days.

Latest center fixes from satellite imagery and the aircraft indicate that Irma is now moving west-northwestward, or 285/13 kt. A strong ridge extending southwestward from the central Atlantic is expected to steer Irma west-northwestward during the next couple of days. A large mid-latitude trough over the eastern United States is forecast to lift northeastward, allowing the ridge to build westward and keep Irma on a westward to west-northwestward heading through Friday. In 4 to 5 days, a small trough diving southward over the east-central U.S. is expected to weaken the western portion of the ridge, causing Irma to turn poleward. Some of the dynamical models have shifted northward a bit from the previous cycle, with the normally reliable GFS looking like a northeast outlier. The official track forecast leans toward the ECMWF solution. Users are reminded to not focus on the exact forecast track, especially at the longer ranges, since the average NHC track errors are about 175 and 225 statute miles at days 4 and 5, respectively.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to portions of the northern Leeward Islands, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, on Wednesday. Preparations should be rushed to completion.

2. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, with hurricane watches for Haiti, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos. Irma is likely to bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to these areas from Wednesday night through Friday.

3. Irma could directly affect the remainder of the Bahamas and Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane later this week. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Irma and listen to advice given by officials.

4. The chance of direct impacts from Irma beginning later this week and this weekend from wind, storm surge, and rainfall continues to increase in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida Peninsula. However, it is too soon to specify the timing and magnitude of these impacts.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 06/0300Z 17.4N 61.1W 160 KT 185 MPH
12H 06/1200Z 18.1N 63.1W 155 KT 180 MPH
24H 07/0000Z 19.1N 65.9W 150 KT 175 MPH
36H 07/1200Z 20.1N 68.5W 145 KT 165 MPH
48H 08/0000Z 21.0N 71.2W 140 KT 160 MPH
72H 09/0000Z 22.0N 76.2W 135 KT 155 MPH
96H 10/0000Z 23.2N 79.5W 125 KT 145 MPH
120H 11/0000Z 25.0N 81.5W 120 KT 140 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 6:44 a.m.
Sunrise 7:10 a.m.
Sun transit 1:32 p.m.
Sunset 7:53 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:19 p.m.


Moon

Moonrise 7:47 p.m. last night
Moon transit 1:32 a.m.
Moonset 7:22 a.m.
Moonrise 8:23 p.m.

Phase of the Moon on September 6, 2017: Full Moon 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

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 4:02 am on September 6, 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.