• ...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT...
• [Public Safety Notifications]
• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]
NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK
1. Breezy, mostly dry, and hot again today with afternoon temperatures flirting with record highs east of the mountains. A cold front brings cooler temperatures, gusty winds, and beneficial rain tonight into Sunday. However, with only light rainfall amounts expected, there will be very little (if any) relief from the drought and fire weather concerns will stick around.
2. Normal to slightly-below-normal temperatures are forecast early next week, with Fire Weather concerns continuing. Some frost is possible over the mountains Sunday and especially Monday night, so precautions might be needed to protect sensitive vegetation.
3. Very warm and dry conditions return late next week, exacerbating Fire Weather concerns and drought conditions.
WEATHER SPONSOR
This space available
DAY SPONSOR
This space available
GENERAL 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. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.
..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Breezy and much cooler with highs in the upper 50s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
..SUNDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.
..MONDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
..MONDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the upper 30s.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.
...INCREASED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
Relative humidity values will fall below 35 percent this afternoon across the region. Breezy wind gusts from 15 to 20 mph can also be expected this afternoon. Low relative humidity, breezy winds, very low fuel moisture, and ongoing drought will allow any fires that develop to spread quickly.
Showers and storms will move into the area through this evening with some strong to marginally severe storms possible. Damaging winds and hail are the main concerns, especially along and north of Interstate 40.
A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.
NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)
State and Local News
Outdoor adventure companies see strong bookings amid drought worries | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)
• What happens if I am identified as a ‘potential noncitizen’ on the voting rolls? [NC Local]
• NC voters could be questioned about citizenship under new elections rule [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial [WUNC-FM (CHapel Hill, NC)]
• Thousands of teachers are expected to march in Raleigh on May 1. Is it a strike? [Raleigh News & Observer]
Iran War News
US Executes Blockade Against Iran | Turns Ships Around and Threatens to Board Iranian Ships Globally | What's Going on With Shipping?
• Iran Update Special Report, April 17, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• AP News Liveblog [AP News]
• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]
• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]
• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]
• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]
World News
Calls grow for PM to quit over Mandelson - as allies of 'scapegoat' civil servant hit back | Sky News
• Europe looks to secure shipping in Strait of Hormuz [DW News]
• Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz; Trump says blockade will remain until deal is signed [Yonhap News Agency]
• Jeffrey Epstein and the French connection [France 24]
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
Orbán era ends, Iran tensions rise | Press Talks | TVP World
National News
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 17, 2026 | ABC News
• Stories of Black and Indigenous patriots come into focus as US remembers the American Revolution [AP News]
• Senate GOP losing patience with Speaker Johnson as DHS faces crisis [The Hill]
• Trump, IRS in talks to settle US president's $10 billion lawsuit [Reuters]
• Oil prices plunge after Iran says Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping traffic [Fox Business]
Financial News
Wall Street Week | Paulson on Iran War, Energy Market Disruptions, Copper Supply Strain, Tax Debate | Bloomberg Television
• Oil prices plunge after Iran foreign minister says Strait of Hormuz is 'completely open,' Trump says regime has agreed to indefinitely suspend nuclear program [Yahoo Finance]
• Fed Governor Waller says Iran war and labor market risks are keeping central bank on hold [CNBC]
• Judge blocks Nexstar-TEGNA merger over antitrust concerns [Google News]
Science and Technology
Incredible Scientific Discoveries About Planet Earth (2026 Compilation) | Anton Petrov
• US-sanctioned currency exchange says $15 million heist done by “unfriendly states” [Ars Technica]
• NASA Plans to Start a Fire on the Moon in First-of-Its-Kind Experiment [Gizmodo]
• Total solar eclipse led to seismic quiet for cities within its path [Science Daily]
• TWhat is Mythos, Anthropic’s unreleased AI model, and how worried should we be? [Scientific American]
Crypto News
Bitcoin: Dubious Speculation | Benjamin Cowen
• Sam Altman's World Teams With Zoom, Tinder to Better Verify Humans in the AI Age [Decrypt]
• Crypto market liquidations hit $820M as Bitcoin price taps $78K [Coin Telegraph]
• EU's Highest Court Backs German Player's Right to Reclaim Gambling Losses From Malta-Licensed Operator [Bitcoin.com]
Support Macon Media
• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at https://www.facebook.com/MaconMediaNews/posts/pfbid0sraDv94aqwTXUA5KqivnmL3U4H5bhjgkZkYdmknBUx5fedENQXAWuQZqndTyNhUel?comment_id=1161740932841534
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.
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia
Published at 6.00am on Saturday, April 18, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
Posts
