ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Back to School Safety Tips for the 2026-2027 School Year [Macon Media]
• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]
• Nine N.C. counties in exceptional drought as statewide drought continues [Macon Media]
WEATHER OUTLOOK
1. Summer-like weather with hot conditions and afternoon showers and thunderstorms continue through Monday. Precipitation chances continue Tuesday and Wednesday with temperatures dropping to near or even below normal.
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SPONSORSHIPS
WEATHER SPONSOR
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DAY SPONSOR
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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)
.TODAY.
...Mostly sunny. Patchy fog this morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds around 5 mph this morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds, becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.
.SATURDAY...Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.SUNDAY...Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Hot and humid conditions will continue through the rest of the work week.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be n the medium-high (8.8out of 12) today with Ragweed, Chenopods, and Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the medium-high range (8.0 out of 12.0)
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MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
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
Friends of the Greenway would like to invite you to FROG FAIR, our Fall arts & crafts show and music festival on September 19, 2026 from 10-4 at the Greenway Visitor Center/FROG Quarters, 573 E. Main St, Franklin (at the Town bridge). We are providing an outlet for 45 area artists and crafters to showcase their wonderful items for your shopping pleasure! As a fund raiser event for FROG, we collect a vendor registration fee and sell breakfast and lunch items. Area musicians will donate their time and talent throughout the day. Mark your calendar and come enjoy the day. Hope to see you on Sept. 19.
To find out more about the Greenway and our organization, our website is: littletennessee.org.
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WEATHER ALMANAC
Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)
Highest Temperature 92°F in Highlands in 1931
Lowest Temperature 31°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest Rainfall 7.06 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2004
Record weather events for September in Macon County
Highest Temperature 98°F in Franklin on Sep 4, 1975
Lowest Temperature 27°F in Franklin on Sep 30, 1967
Greatest Rainfall 11.87 inches in Highlands on Sep 29, 1964
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1873
Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of September
Highest Temperature 108°F Belhaven, Beaufort County Sep 25, 1921
Lowest Temperature 23°F Marion, McDowell County Sep 28, 2000
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 21.04 in Elizabethtown, Bladen County Sep 30, 2018
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WNC News
Heating oil prices expected to soar in western NC | WLOS-TV (Asheville), NC
• PGA TOUR expected to bring $10M in direct spending to Asheville area [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• Melania Trump touts STEM in Helene-scarred Ashe [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• County to continue without data center moratorium [The Franklin Press]
• Commissioners tackle rural phone service, data centers and transit funding [Macon Sense]
• Silver-Line owner to fund next phase of French Broad cleanup [Asheville Watchdog ]
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NC News
SCOTUS blocks Trump's proposed absentee ballot restrictions | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)
• Trump slams Cooper, boosts Whatley in NC speech focused on crime [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Trump claims NC crime among worst in country. His attorney general says otherwise [Raleigh News & Observer]
• ‘I am still with that guy’: Whatley doubles down on Trump at North Carolina event [NC Local]
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National News
Trump calls AI alarm “a hoax”: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - Sept. 16, 2026 | ABC News
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Full Episode - Sept. 16 | NBC News
Washington Today (9-16-26): Fed hikes interest rate | House passes Sen. Graham Russia Sanctions Bill | C-SPAN
• Mitch McConnell’s Senate Vote Under Scrutiny After Lengthy Health Absence [Newsweek Magazine]
• Trump offers fiery response to Federal Reserve rate hike [The Hill]
• Trump suggests EU allowing Canada as associate member could be a ‘hostile act’ [AP News]
• Trump says Kennedy Center could be 'ripped down' if he doesn't get 'recognition' Yahoo News]
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World News
What the Ship | Sector Analysis: Containers, Tankers, Bulk & Car Carriers | SLNC York & Starship 40 | What's Going on With Shipping?
Canada could become first 'associate member' of the EU | BBC News
• S. Korea, France stage joint air drills to enhance interoperability [Yonhap News Agency]
• The 28th state? Carney's Canada draws closer to European Union [France 24]
• US troops must prepare to fight around the moon, Trump’s top military adviser says [AP News]
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Financial News
Market Close: Fed Raises Rates, Signals More Hikes Ahead; Stocks Fall • 9/16/26 | CNBC Television
FOMC Press Conference, September 16, 2026 | Federal Reserve
Trump Calls for Lower US Rates After Fed's Warsh Delivers Hike | Daybreak Europe 9/9/2026 | Bloomberg Television
• Trump slams the Fed rate hike, says he told Warsh 'you might as well vote with the board' [Yahoo Finance]
• Pentagon reveals $33.4 billion Iran war bill and ‘strategic’ weapons shortfalls [CNBC]
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Published at 6:00am on Thursday, September 17, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
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