Daily Weather Briefing for Saturday, April 22, 2017

LOCAL OUTLOOK

An unsettled weather pattern will continue today as a front stalls over our area, with showers and thunderstorms possible. A low pressure system will move into the area Sunday bringing widespread showers and some thunderstorms. The low will slowly shift east of the area early next week, bringing an end to the rain. A warming and drying trend will commence through the rest of the work week.

Weather Almanac for April 22nd (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 87°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1963
Lowest Temperature 21°F in Highlands in 1901
Greatest Rainfall 2.13 inches in Highlands in 1931
Greatest Snowfall 1.5 inches in Highlands in 1901


THREE DAY OUTLOOK




TODAY Chance of strong storms in the late afternoon

Patchy fog in the morning. Partly sunny with highs near 80. Light winds out of the southwest in the morning, then rising to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected, with more possible in locations that see thunderstorm activity.

TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with fog possible after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s and winds out of the southwest calming before midnight.80% chance of showers and thunderstorms with rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch expected.



SUNDAY Heavy rains may bring flooding

Patchy fog early. Mostly cloudy with winds 5 to 10 mph out of the north. Near 100% chance of rain with rainfall accumulations between 1 and 2 inches expected.

SUNDAY NIGHT Flooding is possible

Rain showers with lows near the upper 40s and winds out of the north becoming light and variable after midnight.



MONDAY Flooding is possible

Cloudy with highs in the upper 60s. 40% chance of rain, mainly before noon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon.

MONDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid to upper 40s.



HAZARDS

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon with the main concerns being damaging winds, large hail and frequent lightning. Heavy rains are expected to develop Saturday night and last until sometime on Monday with rainfall totals expected to be in the 2 to 3 inch range. Some localized flooding may be possible.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for today through Monday, 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.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

..TODAY...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. The main threats will be from locally heavy rainfall, cloud to ground lightning, and gusty winds. However, a few severe thunderstorms, producing brief damaging winds and large hail are possible, mainly north of the I-85 corridor.

..SUNDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible. Widespread showers develop during the day and continue into the evening with periods of heavy rain possible. Rainfall totals of up to 3 inches are possible which could lead to flooding. In addition, an isolated severe storm with damaging winds could develop during the afternoon south of the I-85 corridor.

..MONDAY...Heavy rain with flooding possible. Showers taper off through the day Monday. However, any flooding that does develop could linger through the morning.

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: 6:26 am
Sunrise: 6:52 am
Sunset 8:12 pm
Twilight Ends: 8:39 pm




Moon Phase: Waning Crescent with 19% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Moonrise 4:34 am
Moonset 4:09 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

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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 5:26 am on April 22, 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.