LOCAL OUTLOOK
An unsettled pattern will continue as a front stalls over our area, with showers and thunderstorms possible today and Saturday. A low pressure system will move into the area Sunday bringing widespread showers and some thunderstorms. The low slowly moves east of the area Monday bringing an end to the rain. Drying is expected through the rest of the week.
Weather Almanac for April 21st (1872-2016)
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
Highest Temperature 87°F in Franklin in 1963
Lowest Temperature 20°F in Franklin in 1983
Greatest Rainfall 2.00 inches in Highlands in 1884
Greatest Snowfall 2.5 inches in Highlands in 1901
DAY SPONSOR
The Greening up the Mountains festival will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary tomorrow in downtown Sylva on Main Street and Mill Street.
A project of the Town of Sylva, this is the year’s largest annual event, and brings 10-12,000 residents, visitors, and families to our beautiful downtown. Strengthened by its early roots as an Earth Day celebration, the festival includes a focus on environmental protection, sustainability, and promotion of local businesses and civic groups. Over a dozen music groups will be performing on two stages and over 200 vendors are expected to participate in this year's event. Come on over to Sylva to enjoy the region's largest festival, there will be something for everyone!
A local videographer has created a timelapse of the construction at the old town bridge. Enjoy!
THREE DAY OUTLOOK
TODAY Chance of strong storms in the late afternoon
Patchy dense fog early. Partly sunny with highs near the mid to upper 70s. Calm winds in the morning followed by winds 5 to 10 mph from the southwest in the afternoon. 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon with rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch, more in locations that see a thunderstorm.
TONIGHT
Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid 50s and light winds out of the southwest. 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall is expected.
SATURDAY
Patchy dense fog early. Partly sunny with highs near the mid to upper 70s. Variable light winds in the morning, followed by winds 5 to 10 mpg from the southwest in the afternoon. 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms with less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall expected. Locations that see a thunderstorm will receive higher accumulations. The greatest chance of thunderstorms will be in the afternoon, the later the more likely they will occur. Some of them could be strong.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy with lows in the low to mid 50s. Winds will be from the southwest, then shifting to come out of the northeast after midnight. 60% chance of rain and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch expected.
SUNDAY
Cloudy with highs near the mid 60s. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the southeast before noon and expected to shift to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. 70% chance of rain with rainfall accumulations between a quarter and half an inch expected.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy with lows in the mid to upper 40s. 50% chance of rain.
HAZARDS
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon with the main concerns being damaging winds, large hail and frequent lightning.
The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for today and tomorrow, a copy has been posted below. If you are going to an outdoor event this weekend, please take an umbrella with you and keep an eye on the skies. If thunder roars, go indoors.
..FRIDAY....Thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and evening ahead of a weak cold front dropping south into the area. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, with damaging winds, large hail, and brief heavy rain the main threats.
..SATURDAY...Severe weather possible. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Saturday afternoon along and south of a stationary front extending across the area. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, with damaging winds, large hail, and brief heavy rain the main threats.
The National Weather Service will be taking the regional weather radar offline for a few days around April 17th to install upgrades.
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.
APRIL 21 & 22
Franklin High School FFA Benefit Rodeo
Macon County Fairgrounds – 1436 Georgia Rd
Tickets available at the gate
$12 Adults
$6 Kids ages 5-10
Under 5 Free
Gates open at 6PM each night
Event starts at 8PM each night
Concessions available on site
Get there early for the best seating!
Saddle Bronc Riding
Bareback Riding
Calf Roping
Steer Wrestling
Ladies Breakaway Roping
Team Roping
Ladies Barrel Racing
Bull Riding
For more information, please visit the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1248793605202655/
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.
Astronomy
A meteor shower known as the Lyrids are active from April 16th to April 25th this year. The peak night is expected to be the nights of April 21st and 22nd.
The Lyrids are a medium strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum. These meteors also usually lack persistent trains but can produce fireballs. These meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere where the radiant is high in the sky at dawn. Activity from this shower can be seen from the southern hemisphere, but at a lower rate.
Radiant: 18:04 +34° - ZHR: 18 - Velocity: 30 miles/sec (medium - 48.4km/sec) - Parent Object: C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)
Twilight Begins: 6:27 am
Sunrise: 6:54 am
Sunset 8:11 pm
Twilight Ends: 8:38 pm
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent with 28% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Moonrise 3:56 am
Moonset 3:07 pm
Evening Events and Planets
Chart shows sky at 10:30 pm tonight
Morning Events and Planets
Chart shows sky at 4 am tomorrow morning
PLANET POSITION SUMMARY
Sky Guides for this week
Sky and Telescope Magazine
Astronomy Magazine
Earth Sky has an article on the eclipses of 2017. [LINK]
Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]
Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]
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 4:50 am on April 21, 2017
#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety
Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Weather Prediction Center.
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