Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, May 17, 2018

LOCAL OUTLOOK

The threat for numerous showers and a few thunderstorms will linger for the rest of the week as a slow moving low-pressure system impacts our region. Locally heavy rainfall remains possible each day. High temperatures will be near normal and low temperatures about ten degrees above normal.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Franklin Town Council had budget work sessions on Tuesday of this week. Links to where you can see the gavel-to-gavel video of the meetings are posted below.

Macon County Board of Commissioners (the budget message and administration-recommended budget have been added)[LINK]

Franklin Town Council [LINK]

FLASH FLOOD WATCH

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
350 AM EDT Thu May 17 2018

...HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED AGAIN TODAY ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE...

.Abundant subtropical moisture will remain over the area today. Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will develop along the Blue Ridge, bringing heavy rain to areas where the ground remains saturated from rainfall earlier this week. Flash flooding is especially likely in these areas.


* Conditions are favorable for heavy rain showers to pass through the same areas over and over again. This will saturate the ground and could cause flash flooding. Small streams and creeks may be overwhelmed and could rise out of their banks, flooding nearby lowlands.

* Roads may be closed due to high water. Some bridges or low-water crossings may be washed away.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.


DAY SPONSOR

A donor supporting the Haywood County 2nd Amendment Rally is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for today. The rally will be taking place on Saturday, May 19th from 11 am to 4 pm at the Haywood County Courthouse located at 215 North Main Street in Waynesville, NC. Learn more about the rally on the Facebook Event Page. [LINK]

WEATHER SPONSOR



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your with your next project.

Weather Almanac for May 16th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 89°F in Franklin in 1960
Lowest Temperature 29°F in Highlands in 1984
Greatest Rainfall 1.25 inches in Highlands in 2003

Record Weather Events for May (1872-2017)

Highest Temperature 92°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on May 20, 1996
Lowest Temperature 23°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on May 2, 1963
Greatest Rainfall 4.2 inches in Highlands on May 23, 1923
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Highlands on May 7, 1992



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.



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FRANKLIN AREA

TODAY

Scattered showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 76. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

TONIGHT

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then showers likely. Patchy fog after 1am. Low around 60. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY

Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Areas of fog before 8am. High near 79. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 10pm and 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

SATURDAY NIGHT

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

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

TODAY

Scattered showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. Patchy fog before 10am. High near 76. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

TONIGHT

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then showers likely. Patchy fog after midnight. Low around 60. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY

Showers and thunderstorms. High near 80. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11pm. Low around 60. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

SATURDAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY NIGHT

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

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

TODAY

Scattered showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. Patchy fog before 11am. High near 67. East southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

TONIGHT

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then showers likely. Patchy fog after 10pm. Low around 59. South southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY

Showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 8am. High near 69. South southeast wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 58. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

SATURDAY

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY NIGHT

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

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

TODAY

A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

TONIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

SATURDAY

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

----------------------------------------


GOES-16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR
1:17 am to 3:12 am this morning


HAZARDS

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and tonight. The storms will be slow moving and could produce heavy rain over some areas leading to localized flooding. Some of the strongest storms could produce small hail and gusty winds as well.

Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are expected again tomorrow. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding will be possible with these storms. Strong wind gusts may also occur with a few of the strongest storms.

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 - Band 15 - 12.3 µm - Dirty Longwave Window - IR (Precipitation)
3:12 am this morning

TROPICAL OUTLOOK

Hurricane Season Officially begins on June 1, 2018. However, the tropics are already becoming active and the moisture from a tropical low-pressure has been responsible for the recent rain and the heavy rain that is in the forecast. Here is the latest outlook:

IMAGE HERE

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
119 AM EDT Thu May 17 2018

Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, northern sections of South America, and Atlantic Ocean to the African coast from the Equator to 32N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis.

Based on 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0345 UTC.

...TROPICAL WAVES...

A central Atlantic tropical wave has an axis that extends from 11N38W to 00N40W, moving W at 10 to 15 kt. This wave appears as poleward surge in mid level moisture and troughing at 700 mb. Scattered moderate convection is from 01S to 07N between 30W and 44W.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

The monsoon trough passes through the coastal sections of Guinea near 10N14W to 04N20W. The ITCZ continues from 04N20W to 01N38W, then resumes W of the tropical wave near 00N42W and continues to the coast of N Brazil near 00N50W. Besides the convection associated with the tropical wave, scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is from 01N to 06N between 05W and 16W.
Scattered moderate convection is from 00N to 04N between 20W and 30W.

...DISCUSSION

GULF OF MEXICO...

A surface trough extends from a 1010 mb low over the Florida Panhandle near 31N85W to 25N87W. This surface feature is interacting with an upper trough with an axis over the eastern Gulf to produce scattered to numerous showers and embedded thunderstorms east of a line from 29N89W to 22N86W, including the Florida Peninsula, Florida Straits, and western Cuba. Moderate to fresh SW winds are over the NE Gulf, N of 27N and to the east of the surface trough. Gentle to moderate southerly winds are S of 27N over the eastern Gulf. A weak 1013 mb high center is over the western Gulf near 26N94W and is supporting gentle to moderate anticyclonic flow over the central and western Gulf, except moderate to fresh winds near the Texas coast, where a tighter pressure gradient exists due to a cold front over interior east Texas.

The low over the Florida panhandle will move NE of the region by Friday with the trailing surface trough gradually weakening. The upper trough over the eastern Gulf will continue to be the focus for shower and thunderstorm activity, mainly over the far eastern Gulf, where deeper moisture and better lift will be present.

CARIBBEAN SEA...

An upper trough extends over the Yucatan Peninsula and northern portions of central America. Upper level diffluence on the eastern side of this trough is supporting scattered moderate convection and embedded thunderstorms from 11N to 22N W of 80W, except the Yucatan Channel, where drier air is inhibiting thunderstormactivity. Broad high pressure over the subtropical Atlantic supports moderate to fresh tradewinds over the majority of the Caribbean basin this morning, except for light winds over the SW Caribbean, and strong winds over the S Central Caribbean. Wave heights near 10 ft are occurring under the stronger winds as confirmed by a recent satellite altimeter pass.

Over the next couple of days the upper trough will remain in place which will keep an enhancement of shower and thunderstorm activity over the western Caribbean. The ridging pattern over the Atlantic will persist, keeping a similar wind profile in place across the Caribbean into the upcoming weekend.

ATLANTIC OCEAN...

An upper trough and surface trough over the eastern Gulf of Mexico is supporting scattered showers and thunderstorms W of 76W, including the central and NW Bahamas. An expansive area of high pressure centered from just E of Bermuda to the Azores spans the remainder of the western, central, and eastern Atlantic. The pressure gradient between this high and lower pressures in the Caribbean and eastern Gulf of Mexico supports fresh to locally strong E to SE winds along the northern coast of Hispaniola and E of the the northern Florida coast. Moderate to fresh tradewinds are occurring across the central Atlantic S of 27N. Gentle to moderate winds cover the central Atlantic N of 27N. Moderate NE winds are occurring over the eastern Atlantic.

The overall pattern will change little over the next few days, with ongoing convection possible W of 75W and strong winds expected to continue along the northern coast of Hispaniola, and at times eastern Cuba.

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.

SECOND AMENDMENT RALLY IN HAYWOOD COUNTY

A rally in support of the secondment will be taking place on Saturday, May 19th from 11 am to 4 pm at the Haywood County Courthouse located at 215 North Main Street in Waynesville, NC. Learn more about the rally on the Facebook Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/203209256946665/

TRIMONT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY COMMUNITY YARDSALE

Want to sell all those extra items collecting dust around your house?

Join the indoor community yard sale at Trimont Christian Academy. Trimont will be doing community-wide advertising for this event.




OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

I am writing to thank the residents of Franklin, Highlands, and Macon County for spreading joy to children around the world this Christmas. Through the generosity of the Macon County community, 4,636 shoeboxes were collected; and the Western North Carolina Area Team was able to exceed our goal by collecting 20,038 shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The International total for 2017 was 11,012,840 shoeboxes!

As National Volunteer Week (April 15 – 21) approaches, I wanted to pass along information about an opportunity for Macon County residents to join a local volunteer team with Operation Christmas Child. This project of the international Christian relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse, sends gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children in need each year and gives local residents the opportunity to make a worldwide impact. “National Volunteer Week is a great time to become a part of this international project,” said June Trull, who heads up the Western North Carolina Area Team of Operation Christmas Child.“Joining an Operation Christmas Child Area Team is an amazing way to give back year-round and share God’s love with children in need.”



Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries since 1993. This year, the local Western North Carolina Area Team hopes to collect 21,000 shoebox gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching more than 11 million children in need.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Thank You
Brenda Hackett
Samaritan's Purse
Media Support
Western North Carolina Area Team
Operation Christmas Child
828-369-6674/ bjandhack@hotmail.com
samaritanspurse.org/occnewsroom


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

Free classes and open studio times are being offered at 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 6:00 a.m.
Sunrise 6:28 a.m.
Sun transit 1:30 p.m.
Sunset 8:32 p.m.
End civil twilight 9:01 p.m.


Moon

Moonrise 8:31 a.m.
Moon transit 3:46 p.m.
Moonset 11:04 p.m.


Phase of the Moon on May 17, 2018: Waxing Crescent with 7% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: New Moon on May 15, 2018 at 7:48 a.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]

CROWDFUNDING 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 3:30 am on May 17, 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, National Hurricane Center, 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.