Daily Weather Briefing for Monday, April 3, 2017

NATIONAL OVERVIEW

....Threats of severe weather and flash flooding will impact areas from the Southern Plains to the Southeast today and Monday...

...Expect snow to occur through the Rockies over the next few days...


Severe weather and flash flooding will be a concern through Monday as a cold front slowly moves across Texas toward the Southeast. The cold front is currently moving over South Central Texas and will approach southeast Texas this evening. Convection will move eastward across East Texas and into Louisiana by tonight. The Storm Prediction Center has these areas in a high risk for severe weather (please check www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov for more information). In addition, areas along the western Gulf Coast are in at least a slight risk of severe weather as this complex of thunderstorms continues its easterly track through tomorrow morning. Flash flooding will also be an issue for parts of East Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley--with WPC having a moderate risk for flash flooding mostly in central Louisiana and western Mississippi. The threat for both severe weather and flash flooding shifts to the Southeast as the front moves across this region--with most of the severe weather occurring from the central Gulf Coast and into South Carolina. Once the cold front is east of the Appalachians by Tuesday morning, the severe weather and flash flooding will no longer be threats. Showers with some embedded thunderstorms can be expected along the East Coast on Tuesday.

Another cold front will drop southeast across the Intermountain West and Rockies over the next couple of days. This will bring precipitation chances to these regions, with higher elevation snow expected in the northern Rockies through tonight. As the front progresses southward tonight and Monday, precipitation will occur throughout the Central Great Basin and Central Rockies--including higher elevation snow. As the system continues moving south and intensifies over the Plains, precipitation and snow will increase especially across Colorado. This system will move over the Plains on Tuesday, bringing with it convection across the Plains and into the middle and lower Mississippi Valleys.

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Moist southerly flow will increase ahead of an approaching storm system. A strong upper system and associated cold front will move into our area this afternoon and evening yielding greater chances for showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe. Conditions will dry out through Tuesday before another cold front moves in on Wednesday evening bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms. Expect much below temperatures at the end of the week with snow showers in the higher elevations.

Weather Almanac for April 3rd (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 90°F in Highlands in 1946
Lowest Temperature 19°F in Highlands in 1936
Greatest Rainfall 2.37 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1979
Greatest Snowfall 0.8 inches in Highlands in 1901


DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718. They are located at 120 Depot Street.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.


THREE DAY OUTLOOK




TODAY (Severe Thunderstorms Possible)

Patchy fog early with highs near the mid to upper 60s and winds out of the southeast. Rain chances start out at 30% at 6 am and reach 100% chance just before 2 pm today with rainfall amounts between a half an inch to three quarters of an inch expected, with more in locations that see multiple thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms are likely, mainly after 10 am into the afternoon hours.


TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with patchy fog near midnight and winds from the south. Rain expected to be over before midnight with rainfall amounts between a quarter and a half an inch expected, more in locations that see multiple thunderstorms.



TUESDAY

Mostly sunny with highs near the mid 70s and winds out of the west.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows near the upper 40s and winds out of the northwest calming before midnight.



WEDNESDAY

Mostly cloudy with highs near the lower 70s. 30% chance of rain, mainly after 3 pm.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid 40s. 70% chance of rain.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is expected today. Please be weather aware and familiar with the advice offered on Macon Media's Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html

The National Weather Service expects that severe thunderstorms will arrive in the region this afternoon with the main concerns being damaging winds, large hail and torrential rainfall. Localized flash flooding is possible in locations that are hit by multiple storms.

A copy of the Hazardous Weather Outlook that has been issued by the National Weather Service is posted below:

..MONDAY...Severe weather possible. A potent upper level system will move over the region Monday afternoon and evening. Conditions are expected to be favorable for isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms. The primary threats will be damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. Although the tornado threat is lower for this region, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

..WEDNESDAY...Severe weather possible. Another strong upper level system will affect the region Wednesday afternoon and evening. Another round of isolated severe thunderstorms is expected. Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes could occur once again. The thunderstorm threats will come to an end Thursday evening with the passage of a cold front.

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.

BUILDING A RECOVERY COMMUNITY

APRIL 6th at 6 pm in the Drake Education Center at 210 Phillips Street

Donald McDonald will be the main speaker.
For more information, contact Kay 706-970-9987 or Perry 828-200-3000




2016 FIRE SIZE PRESENTATION

The United States Forest Service will be making a presentation will cover the organization of suppression resources, cooperative efforts, suppression repair activities and future Forest Service restoration activities at Tartan Hall on April 6th.

More information is on the blog at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/2016-fire-size-presentation-scheduled.html


SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is effecting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.





CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia


Published at 4:02 am on April 3, 2017

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