Daily Weather Briefing for Friday, April 13, 2018

LOCAL NEWS

The USFS has been conducting a number of prescribed burns this spring to burn off the undergrowth on their lands and the smoke in Macon County was at a higher level than it has been since the 2016 wildfires. The main source for us in Macon County was the Bramlett Ridge Prescribed Burn in the Moccasin State Park in Georgia, where  2,206 acres were being burned. The prevailing winds were out of the southwest, so much of the smoke plume was pushed into our region. The fire was about 20 miles southwest of Otto and 25 miles or so southwest of Franklin. The smoke from the larger prescribed burns was visible from the GOES-16 weather satellite. A time-lapse of images from these fires can be seen below. The time period is from 1:07 pm to 7:12 pm with images taken 5 minutes apart.



There was also a 700 acre plus burn being conducted between Highlands and Cashiers and the smoke from that fire impacted much of Jackson County to the northeast of the fire location.

1,309 acres were also burned in the Tallulah Gorge. Much of that smoke also went into the southeast section of Macon County and on into the southern half of Jackson County to our east. There were also a number of other large prescribed fires in the southeast that were visible from the GOES-16 weather satellite. The 570-acre burn in the Alarka Community mainly impacted people living in Swain and northern Jackson Counties.

More prescribed burns will be taking place today. The USFS in North Carolina does not give as much warning as the USFS in Georgia, so I do not know where the fires in NC will be or if any of them will impact us in Macon County. The ones in Georgia will be a 1,602-acre burn on Buddy Cove in Fanin County, and another (acreage not provided) at the Davenport OHV area. These fires should miss Macon County to the west since the prevailing winds will be from a more southerly direction today instead of from the southwest. but will contribute to a generally smoky day today. Those of you with respiratory difficulties may want to limit your time outdoors today. The leftover burning from the TallulGorgerge Prescribed Burn will be the main source of smoke for those of us in Macon County today.


LOCAL OUTLOOK

High pressure will dominate our weather the rest of the week, with generally dry conditions expected. Expect a gradual warming trend through Saturday, with temperatures climbing above normal on Thursday. A strong and vigorous cold front arrives on Sunday bringing showers and thunderstorms. Expect much cooler weather behind the front going into the first half of next week.


WEATHER SPONSOR



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Weather Almanac for April 13th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 85°F in Franklin in 1981
Lowest Temperature 16°F in Franklin 1940
Greatest Rainfall 2.84 inches in Highlands in 1994
Greatest One-Day Snowfall (no snowfall has been recorded on this date)

Record Weather Events for April (1872-2017)

Highest Temperature 91°F in Franklin on April 26, 1986
Lowest Temperature 13°F in Highlands on April 1, 1987
Greatest Rainfall 7.00 inches in Highlands on April 7, 1895
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 9.5 inches in Franklin on April 4, 1987



THREE DAY OUTLOOK

The images below represent the daily forecast at 8 am for today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Click on any of them to enlarge.




----------------------------------
FRANKLIN AREA

TODAY

Sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

TONIGHT

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South southeast wind around 6 mph.

SATURDAY

A slight chance of rain before noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

SUNDAY

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 64. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

SUNDAY NIGHT

A 30 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

-----------------------------------------
OTTO AREA

TODAY

Sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South southeast wind around 7 mph.

SATURDAY

A chance of rain, mainly between 10am and noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.


SUNDAY

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 64. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

SUNDAY NIGHT

A 30 percent chance of rain before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

---------------------------------------------
HIGHLANDS AREA

TODAY

Sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

TONIGHT

A 20 percent chance of rain after 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

SATURDAY

A chance of rain, mainly between 9am and noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. South wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

SUNDAY

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 58. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

SUNDAY NIGHT

A chance of showers before 9pm, then a chance of rain between 9pm and 10pm. The rain could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

--------------------------------------------
NANTAHALA AREA

TODAY

Sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

SATURDAY

A slight chance of rain before 11am, then a chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. South wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

SUNDAY

Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 60. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Showers likely, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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GOES 16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR at night
12:22 am this morning to 3:17 am this morning


HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today. Severe weather is possible on Sunday. The National Weather Service has issues a Hazardous Weather Outlook for potential severe thunderstorms that may produce damaging winds and large hail. More information from the NWS is posted below.

NWS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

..SUNDAY...Severe weather possible. A strong cold front, accompanied by a line of showers and thunderstorms, will cross the region from west to east during the day on Sunday. Conditions will be favorable for some of these thunderstorms to produce damaging winds, hail up to 1 inch in diameter, and perhaps a few brief tornadoes. Please stay tuned to your favorite source of weather information in the coming days.

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



This image was taken at 3:17 am this morning



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 graphics. 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.


COMMUNITY WALK ON THE GREENWAY

The Friends of the Greenway invites the community to participate in a "Walk on the Greenway" on April 21, 2018 at 10:30 AM beginning at the Macon County Library (on Siler Rd). Sunny Himes will lead about a 2 mile walk, highlighting several natural communities including a Red Cedar-Hardwood Woodland, Montane Alluvial Forest, and Floodplain wetlands. Discussion points will be historic and current uses of the land around the Greenway, how these uses shaped today's terrain and plant community compositions, and the challenges of wildland restoration in a popular urban park. Ms. Himes is a lecturer at Western Carolina University in botany, ecology and introduction biology. She is a past FROG Board member and continues to manage restoration projects on the Greenway. A $5 donation is suggested for this benefit walk. Send email of your interest in participating on the walk to: frog28734@gmail.com.




From Bully to Buddy, A Community Forum
Please note this forum is now taking place on the 26th of April

Bullying affects us all in different ways. Let’s work this out together.
Sincere invitations to the bully, the bullied and those in between — all ages — all genders Featuring: interaction, role playing, dialogue, discovery and direction (and some fun!)

This forum will be taking place on Wednesday, April 26 at 6 PM - 8 PM
pin in Tartan Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church Street, Franklin, NC

Join the event page on Facebook to find out more and to receive updates. [LINK]


Series of Dementia Workshops Coming in March and April

A campaign to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding around dementia is underway in Macon County with the support of area churches, the Southwestern Commission Area Agency on Aging, Macon County Public Library, Angel Medical, Macon County Senior Services, and Macon County DSS.

Hickory Knoll United Methodist Church has partnered with a growing list of area churches throughout Macon County to host a workshop series, ‘Dementia Friends NC’ beginning on Tuesdays, March 20, 2018. Designed to help build awareness about dementia and identify ways local citizens can help people who are living with it in our community, the four-session workshop series is being made possible through a Missional Engagement Team Grant of the Smoky Mountain District of The United Methodist Church.

The 90-minute sessions will take place on four consecutive Tuesdays, beginning March 20, 2018, with both afternoon and evening sessions offered, as well as choice of venue.  All 2:00 p.m. sessions will be offered at the John & Dorothy Crawford Senior Center.   All 7:00 p.m. sessions will be offered at the Macon County Public Library.

ALL WORKSHOPS WILL BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

More information, including a schedule of meeting locations and times, are on the blog. [LINK]

Uptown Gallery classes
(These are on-going classes – repeat weekly)

Free classes and open studio times are being offered at the The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm or on Thursday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. 

Bring your own materials and join an on-going drawing course led by gallery artists on Fridays, from 11am – 2 pm. For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at (828) 349 – 4607.




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 6:38 a.m.
Sunrise 7:04 a.m.
Sun transit 1:34 p.m.
Sunset 8:05 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:31 p.m.


Moon

Moonrise 5:57 a.m.
Moon transit 11:49 a.m.
Moonset 5:47 p.m.


Phase of the Moon on April 13, 2018: Waning Crescent with 7% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.t 2:30 pm on April 12, 2018
Closest Primary Moon Phase: New Moon on April 15, 2018 at 9:57 p.m. (local daylight 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

4:20 am on April 13, 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.