Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, April 6, 2017

NATIONAL OVERVIEW

...Severe thunderstorms possible across portions of the Mid-Atlantic...

...Heavy rain possible for portions of the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast...

...Rain and snow expected to spread across much of the western U.S. through Saturday...

A deepening low pressure system will move northeastward from the Ohio valley to the lower Great Lakes today and tonight. A cold front ahead of the system will sweep eastward across the Mid-Atlantic states, bringing potentially heavy rainfall as well as severe thunderstorms. Please refer to products issued by the Storm Prediction Center for further details on the severe weather threat. Farther north, an occluded frontal system along with a plume of moisture and from farther south will bring widespread rain and a few thunderstorms to the Northeast. Rain is expected to persist across much of the Northeast through tonight and into Friday morning as the low pressure system lingers overhead. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible across areas from the northern Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast. These heavy rains could produce result in flooding issues for some areas. Colder air will wrap around the western side of the low pressure system Thursday night into Friday, with rain mixing with or changing to snow across the lower Great Lakes and along the spine of the Appalachians. This mixture of rain and snow is forecast to gradually taper off through the day on Friday, but scattered rain or snow showers could persist into Friday evening across portions of the central/northern Appalachians. Much cooler temperatures will overspread the eastern third of the nation in the wake of this system, with high temperatures today and Friday forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees below average for many areas. Temperatures will begin to moderate some by Saturday, but will remain below average for many areas.

A pattern change is in store for the western U.S. over the next couple days, with a return to wet and stormy conditions expected. A weak frontal system will bring rain and high elevation snows to areas from northern California to the Pacific Northwest and the northern Intermountain West early today. A more substantial system will approach the West Coast late today, however, bringing a plume of deep Pacific moisture, and spreading widespread rain and mountain snow across much of the region tonight and Friday. By Friday night, snow levels will lower across the West as an upper-level trough amplifies overhead. Rain is expected to change to snow Friday night across much of the interior West, with snow levels lowering further in the Cascades, Sierras, and coastal ranges. Heavy snow will be possible at some of the higher elevations. Also by Friday night into Saturday, another wave of low pressure is forecast to approach central California, bringing a renewed round of moisture and precipitation to the region.

LOCAL NEWS



Macon County escaped the brunt of the severe weather that was forecast yesterday. Other than a couple hundred power outages caused by lightning, there are no reports of damage from high winds or other damage due to lightning.

Here is 5 minutes and 38 seconds of audio from a storm that lasted over an hour. It was recorded it at the Fountain Square Gazebo on Main Street in Franklin beginning at 10:30 pm. I can only imagine what the sounds the storms in central Georgia and western South Carolina generated.

LOCAL OUTLOOK

A strong cold front will push east of our area this morning. Expect very windy conditions today into Friday. Temperatures will be much below normal Thursday into the start of the weekend, then milder temperatures return into the first half of next week.

Weather Almanac for April 6th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 85°F in Franklin in 1997
Lowest Temperature 14°F in Highlands in 1920
Greatest Rainfall 3.05 inches in Highlands in 1936
Greatest Snowfall 1.0 inches in Highlands in 1931



THREE DAY OUTLOOK




TODAY

Mostly cloudy with highs near 50 (wind chills in the 40s) and wind out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph. Wind gusts will be around 30 mph at times, and 40 to 50 mph on the ridges and higher elevations. 50% chance of rain, mainly after 7 am with rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch expected.


TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near freezing (wind chills in the 20s) and winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph. Gusts will be in the 25 mph range. 30% chance of rain, mainly before 11 pm.



FRIDAY

Mostly sunny with highs near the lower 50s (wind chills in the upper 40s) and winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph. Wind gusts in the 25 mph range are expected.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows near 30 (wind chills in the 20s) and winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph. Winds gusts will be in the 25 mph range.



SATURDAY

Sunny with highs near the mid 60s.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows near the mid 30s.


HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is expected today. A high wind field will be passing through Macon County for the next couple of days and the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for Macon County. A copy of it has been posted below the Hazardous Weather Outlook.

A Winter Weather Advisory has also been issued for the mountains near the Tennessee line. Elevations above 4,000 feet in northern and western Macon County could see a dusting of snow, too.


The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook that includes Macon County for today and Friday. A copy is posted below:

..THURSDAY...High winds and winter weather likely. Please refer to the Wind Advisory for more information. Accumulating snow will also be possible at the highest elevations through Friday morning.

..FRIDAY...High winds and winter weather likely. Threat for elevated winds continues into Friday, tapering off Friday afternoon.

***Wind Advisory***

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1249 AM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017

...STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...

.A strong cold front will sweep across the area early this morning. Very strong west to northwest winds will develop behind the front. Wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph will be possible, especially for counties along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The most likely period for these strong wind gusts will be Thursday afternoon and especially Thursday evening and through early Friday. At least isolated downed trees and power outages can be expected.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT FRIDAY...

* LOCATIONS...The Piedmont and lower foothills of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia, plus the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.

* HAZARDS...Strong wind gusts.

* TIMING...Winds and gusts will be strongest during the day Thursday. While they will become less gusty for a time Thursday night, on Friday the gusts will strengthen again.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult...especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp.

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

Tonight 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 tonight.

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.





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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.

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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 4:50 am on April 6, 2017

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