Daily Weather Briefing for Saturday, May 26, 2018

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Unsettled weather will persist over the next week as we remain under a warm and humid air mass. As low pressure develops over the Gulf of Mexico, deep tropical moisture will then overspread the area the latter half of the weekend and persist into next week, bringing potentially heavy rainfall for the Memorial Day weekend and through the middle part of next week.

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 26th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 89°F in Franklin in 1953
Lowest Temperature 30°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1951
Greatest Rainfall 2.28 inches in Highlands in 1948

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

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, 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 tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

TONIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, 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.

SUNDAY

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

MEMORIAL DAY

Cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

MONDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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OTTO AREA

TODAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. 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 before 2am, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, 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.

SUNDAY

A chance of showers before 10am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

MEMORIAL DAY

Cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

MONDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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HIGHLANDS AREA

TODAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. 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 before 2am, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

SUNDAY

A chance of showers before 10am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. 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.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

MEMORIAL DAY

Showers likely before 3pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

MONDAY NIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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NANTAHALA AREA

TODAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

TONIGHT

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

SUNDAY

A chance of showers before 10am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 60. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

MEMORIAL DAY

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

MONDAY NIGHT

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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GOES-16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR
12:07 am to 3:02 am this morning


HAZARDS

A period of extended rain is expected over the next several days. Flooding may be possible. For more information about the tropical system that may be developing in the Gulf of Mexico and impacting our region with heavy rain, please see the Tropical Outlook.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook regarding the developing situation and it has been posted below for your convenience.

NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook

..SATURDAY...Heavy rain possible.
..SUNDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible. Tropical moisture interacting with a frontal zone may bring organized heavy rainfall back to the region.
..MONDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible.
..TUESDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible.
..WEDNESDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible.
..THURSDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible.

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)
3:07 am this morning

TROPICAL OUTLOOK

Subtropical Storm ALBERTO formed yesterday in the Gulf of Mexico and will be heading north and bringing copious amounts of rain to our region from the latter half of the weekend into late next week. Flood Watches and Warnings will likely be issued by the National Weather Service during this time. The Tropical Weather Outlook is posted below for your convenience.



Subtropical Storm Alberto Discussion Number 3
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL012018
1000 PM CDT Fri May 25 2018

Satellite imagery, earlier aircraft data, and surface observations indicate that Alberto is rather disorganized. A prominent mid-level center is near the western tip of Cuba, with the convection somewhat organized around it. However, the low-level center is about 170 nautical miles south-southwest of the mid-level center. There are no recent observations of gale-force winds, so the initial intensity will remain an uncertain 35 knots. An upper-level trough just to the west and northwest of the cyclone is advecting cool and dry air into Alberto, and thus the system remains a subtropical cyclone at this time.

The initial motion is a somewhat uncertain 090/4. Alberto should turn northward during the next 12 h or so in response to the nearby upper-level trough, with this motion continuing through about 36 h. After that, a north-northwestward motion is likely as the aforementioned trough becomes a closed low over the central Gulf of Mexico and Alberto moves around the northeast side. This evolution should cause Alberto to move through the eastern Gulf of Mexico during the next 2-3 days, and then make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast between 72-96 h. After landfall, Alberto should continue northward through the southeastern United States. The new forecast track is nudged a bit to the east of the previous track during the first 36 h based on the initial position, and it lies just to the west of the consensus models. One uncertainty in the track forecast is the possibility that the center could re-form to the north, which at the least could change the timing of the forecast track.

The dynamical models forecast Alberto to reach an area of stronger upper-level divergence in about 24 h, with the models agreeing on more significant development starting about that time. The intensity forecast shows a slower development rate for the first 24 h than the previous forecast, then shows a faster development to the 55-kt peak intensity of the previous forecast. After landfall, Alberto should quickly weaken over land. The new intensity forecast is near the intensity consensus and the SHIPS model.

Some of the intensity guidance suggests that Alberto could become a hurricane before landfall. If the guidance trends stronger, a hurricane watch could be needed for a portion of the Gulf Coast on Saturday.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Regardless of its exact track and intensity, Alberto is expected to produce heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, western Cuba, southern Florida and the Florida Keys. Rainfall and flooding potential will increase across the central U.S. Gulf Coast region and the southeastern United States later this weekend and early next week when Alberto is expected to slow down after it moves inland.

2. Tropical-storm-force winds and hazardous storm surge are possible along portions of the central and eastern U.S. Gulf Coast beginning on Sunday, including areas well east of the track of Alberto's center, and tropical storm and storm surge watches are in effect for portions of these areas. Residents in the watch areas are encouraged not to focus on the details of the forecast track of Alberto and should follow any guidance given by their local government officials.

3. Dangerous surf and rip current conditions are affecting portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba and will likely spread along the eastern and central U.S. Gulf Coast later this weekend.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 26/0300Z 19.4N 85.7W 35 KT 40 MPH
12H 26/1200Z 20.7N 85.4W 35 KT 40 MPH
24H 27/0000Z 22.9N 85.1W 40 KT 45 MPH
36H 27/1200Z 25.4N 85.4W 50 KT 60 MPH
48H 28/0000Z 27.0N 86.3W 55 KT 65 MPH...TROPICAL CYCLONE
72H 29/0000Z 29.5N 87.5W 55 KT 65 MPH...TROPICAL CYCLONE
96H 30/0000Z 32.5N 88.0W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
120H 31/0000Z 36.5N 85.5W 20 KT 25 MPH...INLAND

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.

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 5:54 a.m.
Sunrise 6:23 a.m.
Sun transit 1:31 p.m.
Sunset 8:39 p.m.
End civil twilight 9:08 p.m.


Moon

Moonset 4:50 a.m.
Moonrise 5:55 p.m.
Moon transit 11:42 p.m.
Moonset 5:23 a.m. tomorrow morning


Phase of the Moon on May 26, 2018: Waxing Gibbous with 91% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Full Moon on May 29, 2018 at 10:19 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

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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 3:30m on May 26, 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.