Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, May 4, 2017

LOCAL OUTLOOK

A vigorous low-pressure system developing over Missouri and Arkansas moves slowly east across Tennessee through Friday. This system will bring Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico moisture back into the area with the potential for heavy rain through Thursday evening.
Expect much cooler air over our region from Friday through the weekend.

Weather Almanac for May 4th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 88°F in Franklin in 1955
Lowest Temperature 25°F in Franklin in 1971
Greatest Rainfall 2.52 inches in Highlands in 1993
Greatest Snowfall There has been no measurable snowfall on this date since 1872 when weather records began being kept.

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 Wind Advisory

Cloudy with highs in the mid-60s and winds 10 to 20 mph out of the southeast, gusting to 25 to 30 mph in the valleys and up to 50 mph in higher elevations. A Wind Advisory is in effect for today. 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 pm. Rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch expected.

TONIGHT

Cloudy with lows in the mid-40s and winds 5 to 15 mph out of the south with gusts in the 20 to 25 mph range. 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.



FRIDAY

Mostly cloudy with highs in the mid-50s and winds out of the southwest. 60% chance of rain, mainly after noon, with rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch expected.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the lower 40s and winds out of the southwest. 40% chance of showers, mainly before 1 am.



SATURDAY

Mostly sunny with highs in the mid-60s. 30% chance of showers, mainly in the afternoon.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows near 40. 30% chance of showers, mainly before 10 pm.


HAZARDS

A wind advisory is in effect until midnight. Winds may cause scattered power outages as limbs or trees fall, on power lines.

The NWS has issued a Wind Advisory that is in effect until midnight tonight. Winds are expected to gust into the 20 to 30 mph range over most of the county, with wind gusts expected to exceed 45 mph in the higher elevations.

This will mean that scattered to widespread power outages may be possible.

Here is the text of the advisory:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
326 AM EDT Wed May 3, 2017

...VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TO AFFECT THE EXTREME SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

.A low-pressure system moving from the mid-Mississippi River Valley to the southern Appalachians will bring very windy conditions to the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians late tonight through Thursday evening.


...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT THURSDAY NIGHT...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from midnight tonight to midnight EDT Thursday night.

* LOCATIONS...The southern mountains of western North Carolina, especially along the higher terrain.

* HAZARDS...Very windy conditions.

* TIMING...Southerly winds will steadily ramp tonight and maximize across the mountains on Thursday.

* WINDS...Southeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph at times, especially at elevations above 3500 feet.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power lines. Scattered power outages are expected.

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.


Saturday, May 6 at 11 AM
EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL RELAY FOR LIFE TRUCK PULL

The Emergency Services Personnel Relay for Life Team is hosting a Firetruck pull to earn money for Relay for Life. Teams of 6 for $150. Also having a pull for children under the age of 12 for $50 per team. There will be hot dogs and hamburgers, and games for the kids! Come out, have fun, and help us raise money for Relay for Life!

Learn more about this fundraiser on the event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/600783233464831/


Thursday, May 11, 6 pm

Social Media Panel and Discussion at the Macon County Public Library

On Thursday, May 11th at 6 pm, Macon County Public Library will host a panel and discussion on the uses of social media. This program is an invitation to learn and share perspectives about online resources, whether you are new to social media, immersed in cyberculture, or skeptical about the whole thing. Four local community members--Bobby Coggins, Elise Delfield, Jennifer Dills, and Timothy Tweed, all experienced at choosing between social media platforms and navigating the streams of digital communication--will talk about why they use their social media accounts, the communities they follow, and what they gain from them.

Read more at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/social-media-panel-and-discussion-at.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 impacting 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

Twilight Begins: 6:12 am
Sunrise: 6:39 am
Sunset 8:22 pm
Twilight Ends: 8:49 pm





Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous with 66% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Moonset 3:20 a.m.
Moonrise 2:41 p.m.



Evening Events and Planets

Chart shows sky at 10:30 pm tonight




Morning Events and Planets

Chart shows sky at 4 am tomorrow morning




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 3:20 am on May 4, 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.