Comet Visible to Naked Eye From Dark Locations,
Binoculars Offer Better Views
Comet 46P/Wirtanen has brightened to the point where it is now visible in the night sky to anyone with a reasonably dark sky away from the light pollution of city lights. Our problem will be a lack of clear skies until early Monday morning, then we will have a few days of clear skies at night before several days of cloudiness return.
For those who have no intention of trying to see it in the sky or cannot see it due to clouds, the Virtual Telescope Project has an event schedule on their Youtube Channel. [LINK] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT1ramHk6l0
Earth Sky has a reasonable article for novices to help locate the comet. [LINK]
For the more technically proficient (and those with computerized telescopes) the orbital elements and light curves are on Seiichi Yoshida's page for 46P/Wirtanen [LINK]
More sources of information:
Wikipedia [LINK]
IAU Minor Planet Center via the Internet Archive [LINK]
Outlook
Low pressure will move north into the Ohio Valley today, bringing widespread rain to the area this morning, and maintaining a moist southerly flow that suggests some chance of rain later today. Broad high pressure will spread over the region in the wake of the low on Sunday, and provide warmer and drier conditions for early next week.
THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.
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Weather Hazards
Hazardous weather is not expected today. Areas creeks and rivers will rise due to the runoff from the rain in our area and to the south for the Little Tennessee River. If you live in an area that is prone to river flooding, keep an eye on the situation.
The National Weather Service has released a Hazardous Weather Outlook regarding the potential for flooding due to the recent heavy rains. It is posted below.
.Background.
A strong low-pressure system crossed the Carolinas and northeast Georgia last night. Heavy rain will be possible with this system, affecting locations where soil moisture levels are already high due to the recent rainfall and snowmelt. This setup may lead to flooding along both main stem rivers and smaller rivers and streams.
.Today and Sunday.
Heavy rain will end early today. However, high water levels may linger along both main stem rivers and smaller rivers and streams throughout the weekend.
WEATHER FORECAST MAPS
Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today
A chance of rain before 9am, then a chance of showers after 9am. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Winds out of the south 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A slight chance of showers before 10pm, then a slight chance of rain after 10pm. Patchy fog between 9pm and 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light and variable winds. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of rain before 8am. Patchy fog between 7am and 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 50. Winds out of the northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 55.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
OTTO AREA FORECAST
Today
A chance of rain before 9am, then showers likely, mainly between 9am and 5pm. Areas of fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near the upper 40s. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of rain between 11pm and 4am. Patchy fog between 8pm and 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light and variable winds shifting to come out of the northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high in the upper 50s.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around freezing.
HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST
Today
A chance of rain before 11am, then a chance of showers after 11am. Widespread fog, mainly before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high temperature near 45 at 6 am falling to around 40 by 5pm. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
A slight chance of showers before 9pm, then a slight chance of rain between 9pm and 10pm. Areas of fog before 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday
Patchy fog between 7am and 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 50.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST
Today
A chance of rain before 8am, then showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Areas of fog before noon, then patchy fog after 3pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high in the upper 40s. Winds out of the south around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of rain before 4am, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the southwest around 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday
A slight chance of rain and snow before 8am, then a slight chance of rain between 8am and noon. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 45. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 50.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around freezing.
Macon County Almanac for December 15, 2018
Highest Temperature 72°F in Franklin in 1927
Lowest Temperature 3°F in Highlands in 1962
Greatest Rainfall 2.76 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1931
Greatest Snowfall 2.8 inches in Highlands in 1958
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Published at 4:35 am on December 15, 2018
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