LOCAL KMART ON LIST OF STORES TO BE CLOSED
Sears Holdings has announced the local Kmart at 395 Westgate Plaza is on the list of stores to be closed. The time frame given was late April. Liquidation sales may begin as early as Jan 12th.
From the Sears Holdings website:
"Sears Holdings continues its strategic assessment of the productivity of our Kmart and Sears store base and will continue to right size our store footprint in number and size. In the process, as previously announced we will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members.
The company on Thursday, January 4 informed associates at 64 Kmart stores and 39 Sears stores that we will be closing these stores between early March and early April 2018.
Eligible associates impacted by these store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores. Customers can use the store locator function on our web sites to find the location of their nearest Kmart and Sears stores. Liquidation sales will begin as early as January 12 at these closing stores. Following is a complete list of the impacted stores."
See the list of store closings at
http://searsholdings.com/docs/010418-store-closing-list.pdf
Cold Wave Safety Briefing
The local National Weather Service has an excellent briefing on their website at http://www.weather.gov/media/gsp/YouTube/brief.pdf in PDF format.
In the coming week, this area will be experiencing a cold wave during which daytime temperatures will be close to 20 degrees below normal. Brisk northerly winds between 5 and 15 mph will combine with the very cold temperatures to produce dangerous wind chills through the week, especially across the higher elevations. Wind chills will drop to 5 to 15 degrees below zero across the higher elevations, near zero to 10 above zero in the lower elevations during the night through much of the week.
Very low relative humidity will increase the fire danger, especially on Tuesday. Please do not burn debris, brush piles or clear fields this week. Put those tasks off for a later time.
When venturing outside, remember to wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Wear a hat because much of your body heat can be lost from your head. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Lastly, stay dry and out of the wind if possible.
Consider bringing any pets indoors and check on neighbors, elderly, and homeless. Take the necessary precautions to protect water pipes from the extreme cold.
LOCAL OUTLOOK
A cold and dry Canadian high pressure will build into our region today and will persist through the weekend, keeping temperatures well below normal. A low-pressure system will approach the Southeast U.S. on Monday bringing a chance of light wintry precipitation to the region beginning early Monday morning. However, temperatures will warm to above freezing later Monday and will return to near normal by mid-week.
WEATHER SPONSOR
Weather Almanac for January 5th (1872-2016)
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
Highest Temperature 74°F in Franklin in 1955
Lowest Temperature -6°F in Highlands in 1920
Greatest Rainfall 4.28 inches in Highlands in 1949
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Nantahala in 1940
Record weather events for January in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Jan 28, 1999
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 4.30 inches in Nantahala on Jan 23, 1971
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 14.0 inches in Franklin on Jan 21, 1877
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
THREE DAY OUTLOOK
TODAY Cold Wave/Very Windy/Dangerous Wind Chills/Outdoor Burning Not Recommended
Wind chill values will start out from around 12 below zero in the higher elevations to just below zero in the lower elevations. Skies will be partly sunny with decreasing clouds. Highs will range from the teens at the higher elevations to the mid-20s in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will range from near zero at the higher elevations to the teens or lower in the lower elevations. Winds will be 10 to 15 mph out of the northwest with gusts in the 30 mph range.
TONIGHT Cold Wave Continues...Dangerous Wind Chill Values
Mostly clear with lows ranging from near zero at the higher elevations to around 10 degrees above zero in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will range from ten below at the higher elevations to around zero in the lower elevations. Winds 10 to 15 mph out of the northwest.
SATURDAY Cold Wave/Dangerous Wind Chills/Outdoor burning not recommended
Wind chills in the morning will range from the single digits below zero at the higher elevations to the single digits above in the lower elevations. Skies will be sunny with highs ranging from the lower 20s at the higher elevations to around 30 in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will be about 5 degrees or so colder. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest.
Low Relative Humidity and Increased Fire Danger
The relative humidity (RH or amount of moisture in the air) will be dropping to dangerously low values today. The RH is expected to drop below 30% around 11 am and below 20% by 1 pm. It won't rise above 20% until around 6 pm and above 30% until around 9 pm. Any outdoor fire that gets out of control will be in danger of finding drier fuels that will enable faster spreading, so please continue to put off outdoor burning until after the rain event early next week.
SATURDAY NIGHT Cold Wave Continues
Mostly clear with lows ranging from near zero at the higher elevations to around ten or so in the lower elevations. Winds will be diminishing and shifting from the northwest to the northeat at only around 5 mph or so.
SUNDAY The Cold Wave is Ending !!!
Mostly sunny with increasing clouds. Highs ranging from the mid-20s at the higher elevations to the mid-30s in the lower elevations.
SUNDAY NIGHT Freezing Rain and Possible Hazardous Driving Conditions After Midnight
Mostly cloudy with lows ranging from the upper teens at the higher elevations to the mid-30s in the lower elevations. 50% chance of precipitation, mainly after midnight, which is expected to be mostly freezing rain. Ice accumulations should be less than a tenth of an inch. Driving may get hazardous before it turns to all rain around 11 am Monday.
HAZARDS
Before we get into the cold wave information, there is the possibility of a Freezing Rain Event after midnight Sunday night into early Monday. Accumulations are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch and travel may become hazardous. Before you head out Monday morning, check the local forecasts and if there are reports of accidents due to slick roadways.
We are in a cold wave in Macon County. Over the next week, temperatures will be at or below freezing for an extended period of time and wind chills will be below zero overnights and in the mornings. If you have elderly family, friends, and neighbors, please check on them to make sure they are doing okay. Keep some extra blankets, flashlights, water, and food in your automobile.
The cold wave is expected to last most of the week and there is a slight possibility we may see a light rain/snow/ice mix at the end of it in the late Sunday Monday time frame. Temperatures next week will probably only be 10 degrees below normal as opposed to our current 20 degrees below normal. Temperature be above freezing by the time the moisture arrives in our area if it is slower than forecast.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory until noon today. The information is posted below:
***Wind Chill Advisory**
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1047 PM EST Thu Jan 4 2018
...BITTER WIND CHILLS TO IMPACT THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING...
.Strong northwesterly winds will continue tonight along with very cold overnight temperatures, leading to the need for this advisory primarily for higher elevations and along the I-40 corridor in North Carolina.
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills expected. Expect wind chills to range from 5 below zero to 15 below zero. Windy conditions are expected as well, with northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph expected, along with occasional gusts of 30 to 40 mph.
* WHERE...Much of the mountains of western North Carolina.
* WHEN...Through noon EST Friday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The cold wind chills may cause frostbite to exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. The gusty winds may blow around loose objects and cause isolated power outages.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will combine to create low wind chills. Frost bite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves.
NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook
..TODAY...Cold wave likely. Dangerously cold wind chills are expected during the early morning hours.
..SATURDAY...Cold wave likely. Dangerously cold wind chills are possible during the early morning hours. Dry air may also increase fire danger during the afternoon.
..SUNDAY...Cold wave likely.
..MONDAY...Winter weather possible. Moisture will increase atop the region Sunday night, as a cold high slowly retreats to the east. As precipitation develops during the pre-dawn hours, it will likely start as a wintry mix of snow, sleet and/or freezing rain before transitioning to all rain by midday Monday. Snow and ice accumulations should be light, but some areas may have hazardous road conditions early Monday.
Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.
As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN
GOES-16 ABI CONUS - 11.20 um (Rainfall)
Image Produced at 03:27 am
MACON CALENDAR
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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.
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 7:14 a.m.
Sunrise 7:42 a.m.
Sun transit 12:39 p.m.
Sunset 5:36 p.m.
End civil twilight 6:04 p.m.
Moon
Moonrise 8:51 p.m. last night
Moon transit 3:46 a.m.
Moonset 10:33 a.m.
Moonrise 9:58 p.m.
Phase of the Moon on January 5, 2018: Waning Gibbous with 82% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Last Quarter on January 8, 2018 at 5:25 p.m. (local standard time)
Sky Guides for this week
Sky and Telescope Magazine
Astronomy Magazine
There will be three solar and two lunar eclipses in 2018. [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
Posted at 4:00 am on January 5, 2018
#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.
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