ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]
• Dangerous heat continues through the Independence Day weekend before the heat gradually wanes next week. Those with outdoor plans for the holiday weekend should prepare for elevated heat risk. Stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in air-conditioned or shaded areas, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
• Isolated to widely scattered diurnal showers and storms are expected mainly over the mountains for Independence Day, with chances increasing for all areas Sunday into much of next week. Per usual, a few storms could become strong to severe during peak heating hours, with the main hazard being damaging wind gusts. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially if you have outdoor plans.
↑ Back to Top
SPONSORSHIPS
WEATHER SPONSOR
This space available
This half price sale is for those who sign up during July and remains effect for the rest of the year. Current sponsors receive the half price discount automatically.
DAY SPONSOR
This space available
↑ Back to Top
FORECAST
(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)
.INDEPENDENCE DAY....Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph, becoming northwest after midnight.
.SUNDAY....Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly sunny with showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.MONDAY....Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then mostly cloudy with showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with showers with thunderstorms likely in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 80 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Very hot conditions this afternoon, with heat index values expected to approach the mid to upper 90s in the lower elevations. Take frequent breaks indoors and stay hydrated.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (4.0 out of 12) today with Grasses, Plantain, and Dock being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (3.4 out of 12.0).
↑ Back to Top
MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
Benefit for Randy Drinnon
July 25th at 5pm
Learn more on Facebook
The many ways you can connect to Mountain Findings to arrange donation pick-ups, drop-off location, shopping hours, volunteering, and to learn more on our community grants programs and graduating seniors scholarships.
Facebook: @MountainFindings
Phone: 828-526-9929
Email: MountainFindings1@gmail.com
Webpage: MountainFindings.org
Location: 452 Spruce St, Highlands, NC
LIVE SATURDAY MIDDAY MUSIC CALENDAR FOR JUNE/JULY 2026
11a to 1p at Friends of the Greenway, Inc.
573 E Main St, Franklin, NC 28734
contact: frog28734@gmail.com; 828-369-8488
7-4-2026—It’s Dudes Day on the Fourth! Come have a great get-together with friends old and new as 4 Singer/Songwriters “sing us some songs and tell us some tales”.
7-11-2026—Join us for Bluegrass fun….as Tommy Nelson and the Burningtown Bluegrass Gospel Band bring us their pickin’ and grinnin’ songs.
7-18-26—Two Troubadours...George James and Gary Gibson.
7-25-2026---Bill Petersen will be singing the blues along with maybe some originals. Then, up from Florida, hear John Bois and the Emotional Support Band.
To find out more about the Greenway and our organization, our website is: littletennessee.org.
↑ Back to Top
WEATHER ALMANAC
Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)
Highest Temperature 96°F in Franklin in 1948
Lowest Temperature 46°F in Highlands in 1996
Greatest Rainfall 4.46 inches in Highlands in 2013
Record weather events for July in Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on Jul 27, 1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1873
Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of July
Highest Temperature 109°F Albemarle, Stanly County Jul 28, 1940
Lowest Temperature 32°F Celo, Yancey County Jul 10, 1961
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 21.15 in Highlands, Macon County Jul 29, 1879
↑ Back to Top
WNC News
Engine 11 Push-In Ceremony (07-02-2026 | Macon Media
• Asheville and Buncombe County plan heat safety steps for July 4th festivities [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]
• 4 health systems to again compete to add new acute care beds in Buncombe County [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Wildlife agency steps up July 4 boat patrols [Smoky Mountain News]
• Three new state laws affect K-12 and higher education [Smoky Mountain News]
↑ Back to Top
NC News
Don't ignore the heat: What to know about humid heat ahead of Fourth of July weekend | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)
• Stein signs bill creating harsher penalties for people who expose NC minors to explicit content [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• How to watch 4th of July fireworks on TV: Best shows celebrating America’s 250th [Raleigh News & Observer]
• $34 billion NC budget on its way to Gov. Josh Stein after year-long delay [NC Newsline]
↑ Back to Top
National News
A CAPITOL FOURTH 2026 LIVESTREAM | Capital Concerts
Life-threatening heat broils 180M+: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - July 3, 2026
• Trump at Mount Rushmore warns of Communist ‘enemy’ in ‘optimistic’ speech celebrating America’s birthday [The Hill]
• Trump hails US exceptionalism before veering into darkly political speech to usher in America 250 [AP News]
Extreme heat on America's 250th, Taylor Swift wedding | NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - July 3 | NBC News
↑ Back to Top
World News
Why the UN is sounding a 'red alert' for Sudan | DW News
• Iran Update Special Report, July 3, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Iran begins dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war [AP News]
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 3, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• As heat waves loom, scientists wonder how humans will adapt [DW News]
↑ Back to Top
Independence Day Weekend
A CAPITOL FOURTH 2026 LIVESTREAM | Capital Concerts
Gatlinburg's Midnight Parade kicks off nation's first Independence Day celebration | WBIR-TV (Knoxville, TV)
America 250: Mount Rushmore Celebration of America's 250th Birthday | C-SPAN
Disney Celebrates America: America the Beautiful | ABC News
• America’s Block Party LIVE [America 250 Committee]
• America at 250 [PBS]
• The Declaration was just the beginning [The National Constitution center]
• After 250 years, is US still living up to its 1776 promise? [DW News (Germany)]
↑ Back to Top
Support Macon Media
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at Facebook Subscription
• Become a Patron: patreon.com/MaconMedia
• PayPal: paypal.me/MaconMedia
Published at 6:00am on Saturday, July 04, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
Posts
