ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]
• Very hot conditions this afternoon, with heat index values expected to approach 100 in the lower elevations. Take frequent breaks indoors and stay hydrated.
• Very hot temperatures today may lead to isolated strong thunderstorm development during the late afternoon hours. The strongest of these storms could bring microbursts with damaging winds up to 60 mph as the primary threat.
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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
Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at Bourbon & Bacon
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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 upper 80s. Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southeast this afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
.TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds.
.INDEPENDENCE DAY....Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. North winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds, becoming north around 5 mph 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. Chance of rain 70 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Very hot conditions this afternoon, with heat index values expected to approach 100 in the lower elevations. Take frequent breaks indoors and stay hydrated.
Very hot temperatures today may lead to isolated strong thunderstorm development during the late afternoon hours. The strongest of these storms could bring microbursts with damaging winds up to 60 mph as the primary threat.
Very hot conditions are expected again on Saturday, with afternoon heat index values expected to approach 100 at times in the lower elevations. Take frequent breaks indoors and stay hydrated.
Very hot temperatures will once again lead to strong thunderstorm development during the late afternoon hours. The strongest of these storms could bring microbursts with damaging winds up to 60 mph as the primary weather threat.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (3.9 out of 12) today with Grasses, Plantain, and Dock being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (2.6 out of 12.0).
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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.
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WEATHER ALMANAC
Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)
Highest Temperature 96°F in Franklin in 2012
Lowest Temperature 42°F in Highlands in 1918
Greatest Rainfall 2.79 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station 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
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WNC News
Asheville Salvation Army to pause services | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)
• NC lawmakers force Buncombe to face appraisal moratorium or $24M loss [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Wildlife agency steps up July 4 boat patrols [Smoky Mountain News]
• Victory in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will be decided in counties that look very different from Buncombe (article focuses on Macon County) [Asheville Watchdog]
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NC News
Winners, losers and weird votes on the way to North Carolina's budget | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)
• NC lawmakers end long standoff, send $34B state budget to Stein [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• NC House and Senate vote for budget, with support and dissent from both parties [Raleigh News & Observer]
• NC Gov. Stein says he’s weighing budget bill on his desk that split Democratic votes [NC Newsline]
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National News
Brutal heat grips 180M+, ER visits spike: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - July 2, 2026 | ABC News
• High temps, thin crowds don’t kill good vibes for Great American State Fair attendees [The Hill]
• ‘Right under our noses and nobody was able to help them.’ 16 kids found in squalor shocks Ohio town [AP News]
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - July 2 | Dangerous heat, World Cup fallout, Olympian damages pool | NBC News
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World News
Massive Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital kills at least 25 and injures many more | BBC News
• Iran Update Special Report, July 2, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Powerful general appears in public as Iran prepares for Khamenei’s dayslong funeral [AP News]
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 2, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• As heat waves loom, scientists wonder how humans will adapt [DW News]
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Published at 6:00am on Friday, July 03, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins font-size: medium;
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