Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, March 23, 2017

NATIONAL OVERVIEW

...Severe weather is possible on Thursday across the Southern/Central High Plains...

...Conditions will be ripe for wildfire production from the Four Corners to the Southern/Central High Plains...

...Wet weather likely from northern California up to the Pacific Northwest coast...


The upper pattern will be quite amplified during the period with the primary system of interest entering the Desert Southwest by later tonight. As this upper trough churns eastward, it is expected to become more closed off in nature which will slow its forward progression. This particular feature will help set the stages for well above normal temperatures, on the order of 15 to 20 degrees above climatology, across the center of the country on Thursday. Further, per the recent outlook from the Storm Prediction Center, some thunderstorms may become severe across the Southern/Central High Plains. This should especially be the case along the dry line/advancing cold front. Besides the threat for severe storms, an enhanced threat for wildfire production is in place given dry gusty winds across the Four Corners region into the adjacent High Plains.

Besides the heavy rainfall/severe weather threat, expect accumulating snows underneath the parent upper low across the Southern/Central Rockies. The current forecast suggests amounts in the 6 to 12 inch range over the higher elevations of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Further east, a northward lifting warm front will keep conditions unsettled from Nebraska eastward into the Middle Mississippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes region. The heaviest rainfall amounts are expected across Nebraska which will be closer to the comma-head of precipitation near the deep surface cyclone.

Elsewhere, a deep upper trough along the West Coast will spread moderate to locally heavy precipitation to areas from coastal Central California northward to the international border with Canada. As usual, orographics will play a key role in placement of the more concentrated activity. The heaviest amounts may be across the Siskiyou and Shasta Ranges where the onshore flow and vertical motions will be strongest. And lastly, the eastern seaboard can expect a cool Thursday morning with temperature anomalies approximately 10 to 15 degrees below average. This is in response to a substantial radiational cooling night given a strong surface anticyclone in place.

LOCAL NEWS

Video of the March 21st meeting of the Macon County Commissioners is available on the blog. [LINK] This meeting was recessed and commissioners will be meeting again on Tuesday, April 4th.

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Cooler air returns to the region behind a departing cold front and will linger through the end of the work week. A warm front will lift north over the region over the weekend bringing increased chances for widespread precipitation and potential for thunderstorms on Saturday.

Weather Almanac for March 23rd (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 82°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2011
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 2004
Greatest Rainfall 4.05 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1952
Greatest Snowfall 0.1 inches in Highlands in 1950

THREE DAY OUTLOOK




TODAY

Mostly sunny with highs in the lower 50s and winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph, gusting to 20 to 25 mph in the morning


TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the upper 30s and winds out of the southeast.



FRIDAY

Partly sunny with highs near the upper 50s and winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid 40s and winds out of the southeast.



SATURDAY

Mostly cloudy with near the lower 60s. Chance of rain and thunder.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Cloudy with lows near the lower 50s. Rain likely.


HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today.

As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN


MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com
There is no charge for civic, educational or non profit groups.

SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE BIKE PLAN OPEN HOUSE

There will be an open house for the Southern Blue Ridge Bike Plan at Tartan Hall tonight at 6 pm.






BENEFIT 4 BRITTANY & DIANE

Saturday, March 25 at 5 PM - 9 PM
at Cartoogechaye Elementary School

Learn more about it on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1271875169584301/



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Published at 4:07 am on March 23, 2017

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