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Thursday, January 31, 2019

Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, January 31, 2019





The Cold Wave of 1985

There is a lot of talk about the 'polar vortex' in the news like it is a new thing. It is not. Cold weather from the Arctic has impacted our region before, most notably during the cold wave of January 18-22, 1985.

The coldest temperature recorded in Macon County was -19°F in Highlands on January 21, 1985. On that day, it was -18°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station and -15°F in Franklin, the coldest readings recorded for those locations since official weather records began being kept in Macon County in March of 1872.

Read more about the 1985 cold wave at the following locations:

Mark Vogan Weather [LINK]

Wikipedia [LINK]

Wilmington, NC NWS Office [LINK]

Weather Underground [LINK]

And, for those who were here in January 2014, that cold wave impacted Macon County worse than the current cold wave. Here is a video shot of Dry Falls on January 24, 2014:






Outlook

Cold high pressure will remain ridged across the area today and hold temperatures below normal. The airmass will warm Friday through the weekend as the high-pressure center moves off the Atlantic coast. Moist flow also begins to increase by Sunday while temperatures continue to rise to above normal levels into 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.





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 Hazards

Other than colder than is seasonal, no hazardous weather is anticipated today in Macon County. The current cold wave is almost over and temperatures will be rising over the next week or so with the potential to reach the low-to-mid 60s by the middle of next week.

A Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service has been added below for your convenience and consideration.



Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
137 PM EST Wed Jan 30 2019



...VERY COLD AIR TO PERSIST OVER THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THROUGH THURSDAY...

A cold, arctic airmass will remain over the region through Thursday. Expect temperatures to fall into the single digits to mid-teens overnight, with maximum temperatures on Thursday only reaching the upper 20s along the ridge tops and mid to upper 30s in the mountain valleys.

The cold weather will result in a high demand for electricity across the region. Power outages may result from the heavy electrical load. Those who require electricity for heating or medical equipment should consider backup heat or electrical sources.

Keep measures in place to protect your property and health from the extreme cold. If you go outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf. If driving, keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Check your antifreeze and windshield washer fluid levels. Be sure to carry a fully charged cell phone.

If you are home, consider allowing indoor plumbing fixtures to drip to allow water to trickle through pipes and inhibit freezing. Use caution with space heaters in order to avoid fire or injury. If emergency generators will be used, they must be situated outdoors in well-ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, remember to check in on family, friends, and elderly neighbors who might be susceptible to the cold. Do not forget about your pets and livestock. Make sure they have a source of water that will not freeze and a warm place to take shelter from the wind and cold.

Do not attempt to walk on frozen ponds, lakes, or streams, as the ice will not be thick enough to support the weight, even of a child.

A cold wave is defined as average daily temperatures 12 degrees or more below normal mid-January average daily temperatures for 48 hours or longer.






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

Sunny, with a high near 40. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 6 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low in the lower 20s. Light and variable winds.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm winds early, the coming out of the southwest around 6 mph by midmorning.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Calm winds.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near the upper 50s.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low in the upper 30s.


OTTO AREA FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high near 40. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low in the lower 20s. Calm winds before midnight, the rising to come out of the southwest after midnight around 5 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Winds out of the southwest 3 to 7 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light and variable winds.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near the mid-to-upper 50s.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of rain after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low near the upper 30s.


HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as zero in the morning, then in the 20s later in the day. Winds out of the west 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near the lower 40s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near the upper 40s.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of rain after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low in the upper 30s.


NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high near 35. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Winds out of the southwest 3 to 7 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near the upper 40s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low in the upper 30s.


Macon County Almanac for January 31, 2019

Highest Temperature 78°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2002
Lowest Temperature -6°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1966
Greatest Rainfall 3.51 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2013
Greatest Snowfall 5.0 inches in Highlands in 1899

Weather Extremes for Macon County for January
Data available from 1873 to Jan 29, 2019

Highest Temperature 78°F
At the Coweeta Experimental Station on Jan 31, 2002, and on Jan 28, 1999
In Franklin on Jan 1, 1952

Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
On that day, it was -18°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station and -15°F in Franklin


Greatest Rainfall 5.10 inches in Highlands on Jan 12, 2018

Greatest Snowfall 14.0 inches in Franklin on Jan 1, 1877



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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present


Become a Patron!

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.

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.

Published at 3:56 am on January 31, 2019

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Daily Weather Briefing for Wednesday, January 30, 2019





School Announcements

Macon County

Nantahala School is on a 2-hour delay.

Jackson County

Smoky Mountain District is on a 2-hour delay.
Blue Ridge is on a 2.5-hour delay (B-Schedule).
Buses will not run on icy roads.

The Science (Minus the Hype) Behind the Polar Vortex



The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth's North and South poles. The term vortex refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air close to the poles (left globe). Often during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the polar vortex will become less stable and expand, sending cold Arctic air southward over the United States with the jet stream (right globe). The polar vortex is nothing new in fact, it's thought that the term first appeared in an 1853 issue of E. Littell's Living Age.


Outlook

Very cold Canadian High Pressure centered over the Great Lakes will keep our region very cold through Thursday then it will shift east. Temperatures warm through the weekend so that we will have temperatures above normal by Sunday. Expect the next rainmaker to arrive 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.





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 Hazards

Hazardous weather is expected today, tonight and tomorrow.

Black ice will be a problem on roads where moisture has frozen and escaped the efforts of the NCDOT to treat them. Otherwise, the main concern is the current cold wave. Average temperatures may be nearly 15 degrees below normal today and Thursday and wind chills will be dangerous to anyone outdoors. Please dress in multiple layers and wear gloves. Exposed skin can be injured in only a few minutes time.





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

Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Light winds out of the northwest shifting to come out of the northwest and increasing to 10 to 15 mph by midmorning. Wind chill values will be in the 20s for most of the day. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 7 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 40. Calm winds in the morning, then riding to come out of the northwest 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Calm winds.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.


OTTO AREA FORECAST

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values will be in the 20s for most of the day, dipping into the upper teens during the stronger wind gusts. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Wind chill values in the single digits. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 40. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Light and variable winds.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.


HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Wind chills will be near 10 and below for a good part of the day. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 12. Wind chill values will be below zero at times. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values will be below zero in the early morning, then moderate to the mid to upper 20s in the afternoon. Winds out of the northwest around 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low in the low-to-mid 20s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.


NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Wind chill values in the 20s and dropping into the teens at times. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 12. Wind chill values near zero at times. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Calm winds before midnight rising to come out of the southwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Friday

A 20 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.


Macon County Almanac for January 30, 2019

Highest Temperature 76°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2002
Lowest Temperature -14°F in Highlands in 1966
Greatest Rainfall 4.20 inches in Franklin in 1875
Greatest Snowfall 3.5 inches in Highlands in 1981


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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present


Become a Patron!

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.

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.

Published at 2:30 am on January 30, 2019

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Live Blog for the Winter Weather Event of Tuesday, January 29, 2019



This is a mirror of an Open Thread that will be posted on our news and weather Facebook Page at 7 am this morning.




Entries will be posted below in reverse chronological order with the newest information at the top and the older information at the bottom.

Thanks to our weather sponsor. Without them and those who sponsor Macon MEdia from day to day, posts like these would not be possible.

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.


************

Live Blog for January 29, 2019

**11:27am** The forecast temperature crash is happening. Most places have dropped to between 36 an 34 in the Franklin area. Be very careful, as area roads will start to freeze in the next two or three hours and accidents may start happening.



**10:42am** **10:42am** Highlands has just a skiff of snow. See the Town of Highlands webcams at https://www.highlandsnc.org/cam



**9:40am** I think it is safe enough to take a nap so I can be rested up for the slick road follies later today. Back in a couple of hours unless something major happens. --Bobby

**9:35am** Here is a temperature graph from the last 24 hours at the Macon County Airport. Current temperatures are still above 38 °F.



**9:05am** Nantahala School has now closed for the day.




**8:57am** Back in the office. Jeb Walk canceled due to lack of snow.


**8.40am** The wind is starting to pick up with winds gusting in a 10 to 15 mile an hour range at the clock tower. The rain has also picked up.


***8:27am*** The snow totals look s like a bust. Now for the slick road follies later today.






8.15am.... so far it is just rain in the downtown Franklin area.

8.00 am.... town of Franklin crews are out applying material to the sidewalks



**7:45am** I will be out of the office for a little bit in an effort to capture photos and viudeo of the arrival of the snow. I will be on my phone, so my responses may be bit delayed for the next half hour to hour or so.

**7:35am** A diagram attempting to show what p[art of the system will impact Macon County.



7:18am** SCC has canceled day classes except for the Public Safety Training Center. A decision about evening classes will be made by 3 pm.



**7:15am** Schools in Jackson County have been closed for the day.




**7:08am** Remember the hazards from this storm won't be in the amount of snow we receive, but in the slick road conditions and then the cold weather that will follow over the next 36 to 48 hours.


**6:50am**

The NWS thinks we might not get as much snow as they forecast.

Forecast guidance from the National Weather Service in Greenville:

As of 632 am: The race is on between the area of precip expanding along the front over the Great Valley of TN, and the sub-freezing wet bulb temps moving quickly in from the Cumberland Plateau. Meanwhile, the analysis shows wet bulb temps hovering at or below 32F across the NC mtns above about 5k feet, which indicates that we are probably good to go with our snow fcst across the ridgetops/peaks. Some very light precip has already moved across the southwest mountains of NC, probably yielding some light accum across the ridgetops, but only very light rain in the valleys. The main band of precip should reach the mtns beginning around daybreak while the cold air comes in from the west through mid morning. To be quite honest, there's plenty to not like about this forecast. Precip coverage still remains underwhelming to say the least, while the cold air seems tardy. Not quite the anafront scenario that we had in mind. The first problem is one of QPF. The latest guidance continues the slow downward trend in precip amount potential. The second problem is the slowness of the cold air, but really this could just be a symptom of the model guidance overestimating how much precip would slope back into the cold air. Readers with a long memory may recall me saying a few days ago that expecting a precip changeover from rain to snow can be a suckers bet, and the trend right now is in that direction. All that being said, we can't (or won't) throw in the towel before the event has even started. Think it more prudent to stay the course at least through the middle part of the morning. We still have a forecast that supports a 3-5 inch total above 3500 feet across the Smokies, Balsams, and Nantahala mtns, and 1-2 inches in most of the rest of the NC mountain zones. Suffice to say, owever, as suggested by the previous shift, our forecast appears to be already near the top end of the envelope of possible solutions, so it is highly unlikely we will exceed those amts and have to expand any of our winter products. There remains a flash freeze potential across the mtns this afternoon so we will wait to see how that evolves with whatever precip we get today. No advisories are contemplated east of the mtns, where it seems increasingly unlikely that precip will still be around when the cold air makes it past the Blue Ridge. The forecast will keep a very brief window where a passing brief snow shower could occur, but with no significant accumulation.

Sky should clear quickly late in the day and early in the evening. Low potential for lingering NW flow snow potential. Temps will drop down well below normal early Wednesday morning. The strong winds overnight will yield a wind chill problem across the high elevations, so the ongoing Advisory for Wind Chill looks good.


**6:23am**



Here it comes!!!

Be safe, and stay off the roads if you can.

Macon Media will start an open thread within the hour.



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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present


Become a Patron!

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.

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.

Published at 6:42 am on January 29, 2019



Daily Weather Briefing for Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Winter Weather Expected Today





SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Macon County

Franklin and Highlands area schools have been canceled with a teacher workday.
Nantahala School is currently on a two-hour delay

Jackson County

Smoky Mountain District is on a 2-hour delay
Blue Ridge is on a 2.5-hour delay (B-Schedule).

Board of Education January 2019 Meeting

The Macon County Board of Education met last night. A video has been posted for patreon subscribers and will be posted on the blog later today.

Mammatus Time Lapse



Keep up with Mike Oblinski on Twitter. [LINK



Outlook

A strong cold front will quickly cross our region today bringing widespread rain and snow. In the wake of the front, a very cold airmass will spread over the area for Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures will warm by the end of the work week and over the weekend.


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.





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 Hazards

Hazardous weather is expected today, tonight and tomorrow.

Rain will turn to snow as temperatures drop today. Snowfall accumulations will range from none in the valleys to over 6 inches on the mountaintops. Temperatures will drop below freezing today and roads will become extremely hazardous. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for those of us below 3500 feet and a Winter Storm Warning for those of us above 3500 feet in altitude for today and tonight.

Very windy conditions are expected, resulting in very cold wind chill values Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Average temperatures are also expected to be around 15 degrees below normal Wednesday and Thursday which could cause significant impacts. Copies of the Winter Storm Warning is posted below for your convenience.

Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
958 PM EST Mon Jan 28 2019

...ARCTIC FRONT WILL BRING SNOW THEN BITTER WIND CHILLS TO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...

.A strong cold front will bring moisture and associated precipitation to the southern Appalachians beginning during the early morning hours Tuesday. Temperatures and snow levels will fall rapidly through the morning hours, with accumulating snow continuing through late morning and into the early afternoon. The precipitation will likely fall as all snow at elevations above 3500 feet, but the mountain valleys and the northeast Georgia mountains will likely see a period of rainfall before the precipitation gradually changes to all snow through the morning. The snow will end from the west during the mid to late afternoon. Arctic air and windy conditions will then develop in the wake of the front, with bitter wind chills setting up Tuesday night and continuing, and indeed worsening, through Wednesday night.

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY BELOW 3500 FEET...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected above 3500 feet. Snow expected below 3500 feet. Above 3500 feet, total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches expected. Below 3500 feet, total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches expected.

* WHERE...Macon and Southern Jackson Counties.

* WHEN...From 3 AM to 7 PM EST Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.

Please report snow and ice accumulations by calling the National Weather Service toll free at...1...800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1. Leave a message with your observation and the specific location where it occurred. You can also post your report to National Weather Service Greenville Spartanburg Facebook or tweet your report using hashtag nwsgsp.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp.





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

Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 11am. Patchy fog between 8am and 11am. Temperature falling to around 28 by 5pm. Light and variable winds early shifting to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near freezing and wind chill values dropping into the mid-20s at times. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near the upper 30s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.


OTTO AREA FORECAST

Today

Rain before 11am, then snow likely. Patchy fog between 8am and 11am. Temperature falling to around 30 by 5pm. Light and variable winds early shifting to come out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 35 and wind chill values in the mid-20s at times. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10 and wind chill values near zero at times. Winds out of the northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near the upper 40s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low in the lower 20s.


HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST

Today

Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 8am. Patchy fog between 8am and noon. Temperature falling to around 25 by 5pm. Wind chills will make it feel like it is in the teens for much of the and dropping to near zero and lower by 6 pm. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight (dangerous wind chills)

Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Wind chill values below zero. Winds out of the northwest 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Wednesday (dangerous wind chills)


Mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Wind chill values below zero. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Wednesday Night (dangerous wind chills)


Mostly clear, with a low around 10 and wind chill values below zero. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near freezing.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.


NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST

Today

Snow, mainly before noon. Patchy fog before noon. Temperature falling to the lower 20s by 5pm. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight (dangerous wind chills)

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as zero. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday (dangerous wind chills)

Mostly sunny, with a high near the upper 20s. Wind chill values dropping below zero at times. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night (dangerous wind chills)

Mostly clear, with a low around 10 and wind chill values below zero. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.


Macon County Almanac for January 29, 2019

Highest Temperature 73°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1999
Lowest Temperature -9°F in Highlands in 1897
Greatest Rainfall 1.60 inches in Highlands in 1893
Greatest Snowfall 7.5 inches in Highlands in 1930


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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present


Become a Patron!

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Published at 4:11 am on January 29, 2019

Monday, January 28, 2019

Daily Weather Briefing for Monday, January 28, 2019





Board of Education Meets Tonight

The Macon County Board of Education will be meeting tonight at 6pm in the Central Offices Building at 1202 Old Murphy Road. An agenda has not yet been provided. Macon Media will have a video of the meeting by tomorrow afternoon.

DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.

Outlook

Dry high pressure will give away today to an approaching strong cold front. Expect this strong cold front to spread wintry precipitation across our region tonight into Tuesday. A very cold area of arctic high pressure will then build in for Wednesday and Thursday then slowly warm into the weekend.


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.





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 Hazards

Hazardous weather is not anticipated today.

A Winter Storm Watch will be in effect from late tonight through tomorrow night for a system that could bring snow to the region in amounts ranging from a dusting on the valley floors to 6 inches or more on the mountaintops.

Very windy conditions are possible, resulting in very cold wind chill values Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Average temperatures are also expected to be around 15 degrees below normal Wednesday and Thursday which could cause significant impacts.



**4:44am** This section has been updated 

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
418 AM EST Mon Jan 28 2019

...ARCTIC FRONT WILL BRING SNOW TO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...

.A strong cold front will bring precipitation early Tuesday, along with very cold Arctic air. Temperatures will fall rapidly and snow levels will fall through the morning before precipitation tapers off by the afternoon. Moderate to heavy snow will occur across the higher elevations of the southern North Carolina mountains and light to moderate snowfall is expected elsewhere across the North Carolina mountains and northeast Georgia.


...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY BELOW 3500 FEET...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected above 3500 feet. Snow expected below 3500 feet. Above 3500 feet, total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches expected. Below 3500 feet, total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches expected.

* WHERE...Southwest portion of western North Carolina.

* WHEN...From 4 AM to 7 PM EST Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.

Please report snow and ice accumulations by calling the National Weather Service toll free at...1...800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1. Leave a message with your observation and the specific location where it occurred. You can also post your report to National Weather Service Greenville Spartanburg Facebook or tweet your report using hashtag nwsgsp.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp.




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

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm winds in the morning rising to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A slight chance of rain between 11pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Rain and snow before 3pm, then a chance of snow. Patchy fog before 8am. Temperatures near 40 at 6 am dropping to near 25 by 6 pm. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 35.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 15.



OTTO AREA FORECAST

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm winds in the morning shifting to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A slight chance of rain between 11pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the southwest 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tuesday

Rain and snow before 4pm, then a chance of snow. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 40. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 35.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 15.



HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST

Today

Increasing clouds, with a high near the upper 30s. Light and variable winds early shifting to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Tonight

A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 3am. Patchy fog before 1am, then patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday

Rain and snow likely before 10am, then snow. Patchy freezing fog before 8am. Temperatures will start out near 35 at 6 am and drop to near 20 by 6 pm. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 25.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10 to 15.


NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near the mid-to-upper 40s. Calm winds early, then coming out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight

A chance of rain showers after 10pm, mixing with snow after 5am. Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the southwest around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday

Rain and snow likely before 9am, then snow. Patchy freezing fog before 8am. High near 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday

A slight chance of snow showers between 11am and noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near the mid-to-upper 20s. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 10.


Macon County Almanac for January 28, 2019

Highest Temperature 78°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1999
Lowest Temperature -10°F in Highlands in in 1897
Greatest Rainfall 2.60 inches in Highlands in 1918
Greatest Snowfall 9.5 inches in Highlands in 1904


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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present


Become a Patron!

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.

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.

Published at 3:55 am on January 28, 2019 

updated Winter Storm Section at 4:44am
updated snow totals at 5:11am

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Winter Storm Watch Issued for Late Monday Night Through Tuesday Night
Very Cold Conditions Expected Tuesday and Wednesday Nights



The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region effective late Monday Night Through Tuesday Night. The Franklin area should receive around 2 inches or so. Higher elevations may receive more. This winter weather will be followed by very cold conditions with wind chill values dropping to around zero Tuesday Night and Wednesday Night.

A copy of the Winter Storm Watch has been posted below.





URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
255 PM EST Sun Jan 27 2019

...ARCTIC FRONT LIKELY TO BRING SNOW TO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...

.A strong cold front will bring chances for precipitation early Tuesday, along with much colder Arctic air. Temperatures will fall rapidly and snow levels will fall through the morning, with precipitation likely tapering off in the afternoon. A brief period of moderate to heavy snow will occur in parts of the mountains of North Carolina and far northeast Georgia.



...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Ridgetops of the Smokies and Balsams may see 4 to 6 inches of snow, with slightly higher amounts on the highest ridges. The Black Mountains and other ranges in northwest North Carolina may see 3 to 5 inches. The valleys and lower ridges across the mountain region will see amounts of less than 2 inches.

* WHERE...Portions of far northeast Georgia and mountainous western North Carolina.

* WHEN...From late Monday night through Tuesday evening.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. A flash freeze is possible in some high elevation areas, meaning wet roads may quickly become icy and slippery.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.


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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present



Become a Patron!

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.

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.

Published at 4:05 pm on January 27, 2019





Daily Weather Briefing for Sunday, January 27, 2019





The Polar Vortex Explained

Have you ever heard the term "polar vortex"? What's behind all the hype? Meteorologist Karissa Klos explains the science behind the Polar Vortex and why there is no reason to panic.





Outlook

Dry high pressure will slowly cross the region through early next week. A wet cold front pushes over the forecast area Tuesday...with an area of cold Canadian high-pressure building in from the northwest on Wednesday.


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.





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 Hazards

Hazardous weather is not expected today.

It is possible that we may see some snow on Tuesday, then very cold conditions will dominate the weather pattern Tuesday Night and Wednesday, with wind chills dropping to near zero at times.

NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook

A strong cold front will cross the area on Tuesday. Very cold air will move in behind the front with snow possible mainly across the high elevations of the mountains. Very windy conditions are also possible, resulting in very cold wind chill values Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Average temperatures may also be nearly 15 degrees below normal Wednesday and Thursday which could cause significant impacts.



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

Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Calm winds in the morning rising to come out of the west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Light winds out of the northwest.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 50. Calm winds in the morning rising to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A slight chance of snow before midnight, then a slight chance of rain and snow between midnight and 3am, then a chance of rain after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday

Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Less than 2 inches in the lower elevations around the Franklin area is expected at this time.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low between 10 and 15.


OTTO AREA FORECAST

Today

Partly sunny, with a high in the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low in the mid-to-upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 50. Calm winds in the morning rising to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A slight chance of snow before midnight, then a slight chance of rain and snow between midnight and 3am, then a chance of rain after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday

A chance of rain before 11am, then rain and snow likely between 11am and 1pm, then snow likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10 to 15.


HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low in the upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 7 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 40. Light inds out of the west in the morning shifting to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the southwest around 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

Snow likely, mainly between 11am and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Accumulations of around 2 inches are possible.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 10.


NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. WInds out of the west around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds in the morning rising to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A slight chance of snow between 10pm and midnight, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the southwest around 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday

Snow likely, mainly between 9am and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Some minor snow accumulation is possible.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 8.


Macon County Almanac for January 27, 2019

Highest Temperature 72°F in Franklin in 1974
Lowest Temperature -11°F in Highlands in 1986
Greatest Rainfall 2.29 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1967
Greatest Snowfall 4.5 inches in Highlands in 1897


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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present


Become a Patron!

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.

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.

Published at 2:20 am on January 27, 2019