Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, May 24, 2018

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Unsettled weather will persist over the next week, with chances for showers each day, along with a few thunderstorms. As low pressure develops over the Gulf of Mexico, deep tropical moisture will overspread the area over the weekend and persist into early next week, making precipitation especially likely for Memorial Day.

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 24th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 90°F in Franklin in 1953
Lowest Temperature 31°F in Highlands in 1931
Greatest Rainfall 2.20 inches in Franklin in 1880

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

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

TONIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers between 11pm and 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

SATURDAY

A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11pm and 1am, then showers likely after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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OTTO AREA

TODAY

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

TONIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers between 1am and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%. 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 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. East southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

SATURDAY

A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between midnight and 1am, then showers likely after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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HIGHLANDS AREA

TODAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 70. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

TONIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. 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 after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. East southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

SATURDAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY NIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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NANTAHALA AREA

TODAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

TONIGHT

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind 3 to 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South southeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

SATURDAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between noon and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

SATURDAY NIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers between 11pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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GOES-16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR
1:42 am to 4:37 am this morning


HAZARDS

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible today and tonight. Severe weather is not anticipated.

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)
3:42 am this morning

TROPICAL OUTLOOK

Hurricane Season Officially begins on June 1, 2018. Information will be added to this segment as systems develop.



Special Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
710 PM EDT Wed May 23 2018

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

1. A broad surface low centered over the southeastern Yucatan Peninsula has become better defined since yesterday, and it continues to produce a large area of cloudiness and showers extending from the northwestern Caribbean Sea across Cuba into the Florida Straits. Continued slow development of this system is possible during the next couple of days as it drifts northward near the Yucatan Peninsula. Thereafter, environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for development, and a subtropical or tropical depression is likely to form this weekend over the eastern or central Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible across western Cuba and the Cayman Islands during the next few days, and over much of Florida and the northern Gulf Coast during the weekend.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...70 percent.

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.

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 5:55 a.m.
Sunrise 6:24 a.m.
Sun transit 1:30 p.m.
Sunset 8:37 p.m.
End civil twilight 9:06 p.m.


Moon

Moonset 3:43 a.m.
Moonrise 3:55 p.m.
Moon transit 10:09 p.m.
Moonset 4:17 a.m. tomorrow morning


Phase of the Moon on May 24, 2018: Waxing Gibbous with 76% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: First Quarter on May 21, 2018 at 11:49 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]

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 4:00m on May 24, 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.