Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, September 7, 2017

LOCAL NEWS (Local and state governments prepare for Hurricane IRMA)

Local and state governments are preparing for the potential impacts of Hurricane IRMA. Emergency Management of Macon County has released a statement and the Governor of North Carolina has declared a State of Emergency effective at 8 am today.

LINKS

Macon Media Severe Weather Preparedness Page


Macon County Emergency Management Statement on Potential Impact of Hurricane Irma


NC Governor Declares State of Emergency and Suspends Certain Motor Vehicle Regulations in Preparation for Hurricane Irma



LOCAL OUTLOOK

Dry high pressure bringing below normal temperatures will build across the region today and linger through the weekend. Rain chances will increase along with gusty conditions early next week as the effects of Hurricane Irma are felt across the southeastern states.



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 7th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 97°F in Franklin in 1925
Lowest Temperature 41°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1952
Greatest Rainfall 3.66 inches in Highlands in 1938


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

Sunny with highs in the low 70s in Franklin and the main valley and 5 to 10 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Calm winds in the morning and 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest in the afternoon.

TONIGHT

Clear with lows in the mid to upper 40s in the Franklin area and 5 to 87 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Winds out of the northwest calming before midnight.



FRIDAY

Sunny with highs ranging from the lower 60s to the mid-70s depending on elevation and mostly calm winds.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows ranging from 40 to 50 depending on elevation and calm winds.



SATURDAY

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

SATURDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows ranging from the mid-40s to near 50.

HAZARDS

No hazardous weather is expected.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of potential impacts by the remnants of Hurricane IRMA. My personal opinion is those impacts will be greater to the southeast and east of Macon County. Of course, it always pays to be prepared. Approach Monday and Tuesday as opportunities to test your family emergency communications plan.

Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.

NWS HAZARDOUS OUTLOOK

..MONDAY...Tropical Storm hazards possible. The remnants of Hurricane Irma may bring excessive rainfall and damaging wind gusts to the region.

..TUESDAY...Tropical Storm hazards possible.

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 Sep 7 2017

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Irma, located just northwest of Puerto Rico, on Hurricane Jose, located over the central Atlantic Ocean, and Hurricane Katia, located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

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



Hurricane Irma Discussion Number 32
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
1100 PM AST Wed Sep 06 2017

Earlier radar observations from the San Juan WSR-88D showed a concentric eyewall, and observations from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft showed a secondary wind maximum over the northwest quadrant. These phenomena may be associated with some weakening, but since the central pressure hasn't risen much the intensity is held at 160 kt at this time. Moreover, the concentric eyewall has become less apparent in recent radar imagery. Considerable lightning activity has been noted in the eyewall of Irma, which research has shown to sometimes be a harbinger of weakening. Notwithstanding, low vertical wind shear and warm waters along the forecast track of Irma should allow it to remain a very powerful hurricane during the next several days. The official intensity forecast is similar to the previous one except at day 5 when stronger shear should cause more weakening. This forecast is generally above the intensity model consensus.

Irma continues on a west-northwestward heading at around 14 kt. A ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic should maintain this course for the next 48 to 72 hours. Later in the forecast period a shortwave trough moving into the southeastern United States is likely to turn the hurricane northwestward to north-northwestward. There has been a slight eastward shift in some of the track guidance models, but since the models could shift back to the west it is prudent to make little change to the official forecast at this time. In any event, users are reminded not to focus on the exact track since the average NHC track errors at days 4 and 5 are about 175 and 225 miles, respectively.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to Puerto Rico tonight, the northern coast of Hispaniola Thursday, and the Turks and Caicos and southeastern and central Bahamas Thursday and Friday.

2. Hurricane watches are in effect for the northwestern Bahamas and much of Cuba. Irma is likely to bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to portions of these areas on Friday and Saturday.

3. The threat of direct hurricane impacts in Florida over the weekend and early next week has increased. Hurricane watches will likely be issued for portions of the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula on Thursday.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 07/0300Z 19.4N 66.8W 160 KT 185 MPH
12H 07/1200Z 20.3N 68.8W 155 KT 180 MPH
24H 08/0000Z 21.3N 71.7W 150 KT 175 MPH
36H 08/1200Z 22.1N 74.1W 145 KT 165 MPH
48H 09/0000Z 22.7N 76.3W 140 KT 160 MPH
72H 10/0000Z 24.0N 79.3W 135 KT 155 MPH
96H 11/0000Z 27.4N 80.3W 120 KT 140 MPH
120H 12/0000Z 32.0N 81.0W 95 KT 110 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 6:45 a.m.
Sunrise 7:11 a.m.
Sun transit 1:31 p.m.
Sunset 7:52 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:17 p.m.


Moon

Moonrise 8:23 p.m. last night
Moon transit 2:20 a.m.
Moonset 8:24 a.m.
Moonrise 8:59 p.m.

Phase of the Moon on September 7, 2017: Waning Gibbous with 98% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.





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 4:05 am on September 7, 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.