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Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
Local and StateNews
Special January 6th Anniversary Section
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
Science and Technology
On This Day
Support Macon Media
OUTLOOK
Departing low pressure will move northeast off the Mid-Atlantic coast early this morning, with wintry precipitation ending in the mountains. Cold high pressure will build in from the west and north the rest of today and into Saturday. Another chance of precipitation will develop on Sunday as a cold front enters the area from the west, with the front reaching the Carolina coast early Monday. Dry and cold high pressure will settle over our region through the middle of next week.
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Franklin Area Schools will operate on a two hour delay for Friday, January 7th, 2022.
Nantahala School will operate on a two hour delay for Friday, January 7th, 2022.
Highlands School will be on a two-hour delay for Friday, January 7th, 2022. School will begin at 10:00 am. Please do not drop of students before 9:30 to insure access to the building and proper supervision.
In addition, buses will only pick up students at the following locations: Bus 6 will pick up students at Shortoff Baptist Church on Buck Creek Road at 9:00, and Clear Creek Baptist Church on Blue Valley Road at 9:25. Bus 109 will pick up students at the Scaly Mountain Fire Station on Hale Ridge Road at 9:25.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
...AREAS OF BLACK ICE EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...
Temperatures will fall into the teens and lower 20s across the North Carolina mountains this morning. The combination of light snow accumulations along the higher ridges and near the Tennessee border, as well as water from recent rainfall left to freeze on area roadways, will result in areas of black ice developing. The black ice will produce slippery spots on roadways. Temperatures will likely remain below freezing throughout the day in many mountain areas, allowing slippery conditions to persist.
Use caution if driving today in the North Carolina mountains, especially this morning.
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Local Weather
General Forecast Through Sunday Night
Franklin Area
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Calm winds.
Saturday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Increasing clouds, with lows in the mid 20s. Calm winds.
Sunday
Showers, mainly after 1pm. Highs in the lower 50s. Light winds out of the south. Chance of rain is 100%.
Sunday Night
Showers, mainly before 11pm. Lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Highlands Plateau
Today
Sunny, with highs near freezing. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 20. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the early evening becoming calm before midnight.
Saturday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 30s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 6 mph.
Saturday Night
Increasing clouds, with lows in the mid 20s. Calm winds early in the evening increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph before midnight.
Sunday
Showers, mainly after 1pm. Highs in the mid 40s. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain is 90%.
Sunday Night
Showers, mainly before 11pm. Lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Otto and South Central County
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 30s. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Calm winds early in the evening increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Saturday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Winds out of the south 3 to 7 mph.
Saturday Night
Increasing clouds, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s. Light winds out of the southeast.
Sunday
Showers, mainly after 1pm. Highs near 50. Light winds out of the south. Chance of rain is 100%.
Sunday Night
Showers, mainly before 11pm. Lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Nantahala Area
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs near freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Calm winds.
Saturday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Light winds out of the east.
Saturday Night
Increasing clouds, with lows around 30. Calm winds early in the evening increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday
Showers, mainly after 1pm. Highs in the upper 40s. Light winds out of the south. Chance of rain is 100%.
Sunday Night
Showers, mainly before 10pm. Lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
Areas of black ice is expected across the county. Please exercise caution as temperatures will likely remain below freezing for most or all day in the county.
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Almanac
Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the extreme upper range of green.
Fire and Smoke Map
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (0.3 out of 12) today with Juniper being the main culprit. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.3 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for January 7th
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 70°F in Franklin in 1890
lowest Temperature -9°F in Highlands in 2014
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.119 inches in Highlands in 1946
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 8.0 inches in Franklin in 1988
Record weather events for December in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin on Dec 31, 1951
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands on Dec 30, 1917
Greatest Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands on Dec 14, 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin on Dec 21, 1876
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)
THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• Franklin man convicted of purposefully setting 90-acre Cals Creek Fire in 2020 [Asheville Citizen-Times]
Macon Media Coverage of the Fire:
April 4th, 2020
April 5th, 2020
• 1 year later: Mountain residents share thoughts on attack on US Capitol [WLOS-TV Asheville]
• Top GOP lawmaker relied on secret maps, later destroyed, NC gerrymandering trial reveals [Raleigh News and Observer]
• NC hospitals say nearly all COVID-19 patients on ventilators are unvaccinated [WRAL-TV Raleigh]
• Son of North Carolina police officer shot by father has died [WNDU-TV South Bend, IN]
Franklin Town Council - January 2022 Regular Meeting
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Special January 6th Anniversary Section
• News and Weather Briefing for Thursday, January 7, 2021: US Capitol Building Occupied by Protesters [Macon Media]
Macon Media play by play on Facebook as Events Unfolded [Facebook]
Joint Session of Congress for Counting of Electoral College Ballots
• What Parler Saw During the Attack on the Capitol [ProPublica]
Day of Rage: How Trump Supporters Took the U.S. Capitol | Visual Investigations
President Biden on January 6th U.S. Capitol Attack Anniversary (FULL REMARKS)
• Division reigns over Jan. 6 anniversary [The Hill]
• Biden condemns Trump and his allies as a danger to democracy on the anniversary of the Capitol insurrection [CHRON]
WATCH LIVE: Schumer, McConnell speak on Senate floor ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary
• Ted Cruz Calling Jan. 6 a 'Violent Terrorist Attack' Leaves Trump Supporters Outraged [Newsweek]
• Democrats quietly explore barring Trump from office over Jan. 6 [The Hill]
• Ex-Trumpers set to plot how to try and take down Trump [Politico]
• Senate Impeachment Trial: January 6 Video Montage [Youtube (Age Restricted)]
• title [SOURCE]
• https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/06/new-civil-war-about-what-exactly-526603 [Politico]
U.S. Capitol Police Chief: "If January 6th taught us anything, it’s that preparation matters."
Trump's American Carnage (full documentary) | FRONTLINE
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National and World News Roundup
• Venmo, PayPal and Zelle must report $600+ in transactions to IRS [NBC News]
• 'We're done. This is the end of the 2020 election': Maricopa County officials rebut error-plagued review [CNN]
• Planned Parenthood Statement on Arson at Knoxville Health Center [Planned Parenthood]
• Woman tied to Jan. 6 Capitol riot involved in fatal crash [AP News]
• California school superintendent targeted with death threats for investigating photo of kids with swastikas [UK Independent]
• North Korea successfully tested hypersonic missile, says report [BBC News]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - January 6th, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode January 6th, 2021
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COVID-19 News and Updates
Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 18, 2021]
• WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard [World Health Organization]
Globally, as of 6:18pm CET, 4 January 2022, there have been 290,959,019 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,446,753 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 3 January 2022, a total of 8,693,832,171 vaccine doses have been administered.
In United States of America, from 3 January 2020 to 6:18pm CET, 4 January 2022, there have been 54,910,550 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 819,656 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 23 December 2021, a total of 485,274,895 vaccine doses have been administered.
Dr John Campbell: US hits a million cases
• WHO: Record weekly jump in COVID-19 cases but fewer deaths [ABC News]
• ‘Flurona’ is an emerging condition of concern among doctors [WTOP-AM Washington, DC]
• A Texas team comes up with a COVID vaccine that could be a global game changer [NPR]
• ‘Paramount importance’: Judge orders FDA to hasten release of Pfizer vaccine docs [Reuters]
• Cherokee Nation in 'crisis mode' as omicron spreads [KTUL-TV Tulsa]
• DeSantis admits to finding 1 million expired COVID-19 tests stockpiled in warehouse [WBBH-TV Fort Meyers]
• Postal Service requests temporary exemption from Biden's vaccine rule [NBC News]
• Monitoring COVID-19 Variants
[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
[Outbreak.info]
• CDC Releases Emergency Guidance for Healthcare Facilities to Prepare for Potential Omicron Surge [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
• COVID-19 case rates by county in 2021 [AXIOS]
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Science and Technology News Roundup
Starlink Launch Jan 6th, 2022
• SpaceX lofts 49 Starlink internet satellites to orbit in 1st launch of 2022 [Space.comE]
• SpaceX’s Starlink internet service has more than 145,000 users so far [CNBC]
• Apple CEO Tim Cook’s Pay Rises to $98.7M in 2021 [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Crypto scammers took a record $14 billion in 2021 [NBC News]
• Thieves Steal Gallery Owner’s Multimillion-Dollar NFT Collection: ‘All My Apes Gone’ [ARTnews]
• Sonos wins major patent infringement victory against Google [The Verge]
• Chinese space station reaches for next stage of construction with robotic arm test [SOURCE]
Tech Podcasts The New Dawn: The Orion Project Spaceship Revitalized
Dr Strangeport: How I learned to stop worrying and love the Displayport KVMs
What will happen to Linux in 2022? A few predictions!
The Worlds Biggest Telescopes Through History - From Galileo to Gran Telescopio Canarias
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On This Day
January 7th is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 358 days remain until the end of the year (359 in leap years).
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
49 BC –The Senate of Rome says that Caesar will be declared a public enemy unless he disbands his army. This prompts the tribunes who support him to flee to Ravenna, where Caesar is waiting.
• [Wikipedia: Caesar's Civil War]
• [Caesar against Pompey - Great Roman Civil War DOCUMENTARY]
• [Youtuber: HBO Rome Fictionalized Account]
1325 – Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal.
1558 – French troops, led by Francis, Duke of Guise, take Calais, the last continental possession of England.
1608 – Fire destroys Jamestown, Virginia.
1610 – Galileo Galilei makes his first observation of the four Galilean moons: Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa, although he is not able to distinguish the last two until the following day.
• [The Discovery of the Galilean Satellites]
• [How Galileo Unlocked The Doors to the Universe | Galileo Galilei]
• [Galileo Galilei: Father of Modern Science]
• [The Worlds Biggest Telescopes Through History - From Galileo to Gran Telescopio Canarias]
1738 – A peace treaty is signed between Peshwa Bajirao and Jai Singh II following Maratha victory in the Battle of Bhopal.
1782 – The first American commercial bank, the Bank of North America, opens.
1785 – Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries travel from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in a gas balloon.
1835 – HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin on board, drops anchor off the Chonos Archipelago.
1894 – Thomas Edison makes a kinetoscopic film of someone sneezing. On the same day, his employee, William Kennedy Dickson, receives a patent for motion picture film.
1904 – The distress signal "CQD" is established only to be replaced two years later by "SOS".
1919 – Montenegrin guerrilla fighters rebel against the planned annexation of Montenegro by Serbia, but fail.
1920 – The New York State Assembly refuses to seat five duly elected Socialist assemblymen.
1922 – Dáil Éireann ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by a 64–57 vote.
1927 – The first transatlantic commercial telephone service is established from New York City to London.
1928 – A disastrous flood of the River Thames kills 14 people and causes extensive damage to much of riverside London.
1931 – Guy Menzies flies the first solo non-stop trans-Tasman flight (from Australia to New Zealand) in 11 hours and 45 minutes, crash-landing on New Zealand's west coast.
1935 – Benito Mussolini and French Foreign minister Pierre Laval sign the Franco-Italian Agreement.
1940 – Winter War: Battle of Raate Road: The Finnish 9th Division finally defeat the numerically superior Soviet forces on the Raate-Suomussalmi road.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Raate Road]
• [The Battle of Raate Road]
• [Winter War - Soviet Finnish 1939-1940 War - FULL 3d DOCUMENTARY]
1948 – Kentucky Air National Guard pilot Thomas Mantell crashes while in pursuit of a supposed UFO.
1954 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York at the head office of IBM.
1955 – Contralto Marian Anderson becomes the first person of color to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.
1959 – The United States recognizes the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
1968 – Surveyor Program: Surveyor 7, the last spacecraft in the Surveyor series, lifts off from launch complex 36A, Cape Canaveral.
1972 – Iberia Flight 602 crashes near Ibiza Airport, killing all 104 people on board.
1973 – In his second shooting spree of the week, Mark Essex fatally shoots seven people and wounds five others at Howard Johnson's Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, before being shot to death by police officers.
1979 – Third Indochina War: Cambodian–Vietnamese War: Phnom Penh falls to the advancing Vietnamese troops, driving out Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.
1980 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter authorizes legislation giving $1.5 billion in loans to bail out the Chrysler Corporation.
• [Investopedia: The Chrysler Bailout of 1979: A Retrospective]
• [NBC Video: Chrysler Loan Hearing NBC 12/18/79]
• [Washington Post: The Bottom-Line Details Of the Chrysler BailoutT]
• [New York Times Archive]
1984 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
1985 – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches Sakigake, Japan's first interplanetary spacecraft and the first deep space probe to be launched by any country other than the United States or the Soviet Union.
1991 – Roger Lafontant, former leader of the Tonton Macoute in Haiti under François Duvalier, attempts a coup d'état, which ends in his arrest.
1993 – The Fourth Republic of Ghana is inaugurated with Jerry Rawlings as President.
1993 – Bosnian War: The Bosnian Army executes a surprise attack at the village of Kravica in Srebrenica.
1994 – A British Aerospace Jetstream 41 operating as United Express Flight 6291 crashes in Gahanna, Ohio, killing five of the eight people on board.
1999 – The Senate trial in the impeachment of U.S. President Bill Clinton begins.
2012 – A hot air balloon crashes near Carterton, New Zealand, killing all 11 people on board.
2015 – Two gunmen commit mass murder at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris, shooting twelve people execution style, and wounding eleven others.
2015 – A car bomb explodes outside a police college in the Yemeni capital Sana'a with at least 38 people reported dead and more than 63 injured.
2020 – The 6.4Mw 2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes kill four and injure nine in southern Puerto Rico.
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Published at 7:00am on Friday, January 7, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
Resources used to compile the information in this article include, but are not limited to the following websites or books: MaconMedia.com, youtube.com, weather.gov, airnow.gov, wikipedia.com, onthisday.com, ncdcr.gov, ncsu.edu, utah.edu, https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/, wolfram.com, biorxiv.org, aps.org, nejm.org, plos.org, cell.com, researchsquare.com, cureus.com, spc.noaa.gov, nhc.noaa.gov, ncdenr.org, medrxiv.org, archive.org, ncpedia.org, nasa.gov, https://ww2days.com, nih.gov, carolinapublicpress.org, microbe.tv, smokymountainnews.com, psypost.org, blogspot.com, pollen.com, franklinnc.com, maconnc.org, spaceweather.com, solarham.com, loc.gov, ncleg.net, senate.gov, house.gov, whitehouse.gov, drudgereport.com, politico.com, realclearpolitics.com, ushmm.org, This Day in North Carolina History, World War II Day By Day, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, The Timetables of History, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The World History and Book of Facts (multiple years), On This Day In History: Over 4,000 facts, The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space, This Day in North Carolina History, The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: From the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future, Spaceflight, 2nd Edition: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity, The Story of Civilization (11 volumes), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877, American History, Volume 2: 1877 - Present, A Complete Chronolgy of the Second World War. Weather and Almanac 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, University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences, and the Weather Prediction Center. Back to Top
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