OUTLOOK
Rain chances are expected to increase as Tropical Storm Zeta makes landfall and moves through the Deep South. Periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected overnight tonight through Thursday as the remnants of Zeta pass over the region. Conditions will improve for Friday with cool, dry weather expected through early next week.
---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---
Day Sponsor
Macon Media is being sponsored today by a Rolling Rally for President Trump scheduled for this Saturday, October 31st. This will be the final Rolling Rally before Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd
When: Saturday, October 31,2020 meeting at 8:30 a.m. to start decorating and roll out at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Starting point is Macon County Fairgrounds - 1436 Georgia Road Franklin, NC (across from Zaxby's)
Rally will be traveling to Maggie Valley to meet up with other counties as part of Operation MAGA. See the national website at https://www.magadragtheinterstate.com
Please respond by text preferably to John Shear! below. For more info contact him at 342-6289 and please leave name and phone number.
Weather Sponsor
Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.
Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/
All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.
--- END SPONSOR SEGMENT---
General forecast through Friday night
Today
Patchy fog before 2pm. A chance of showers before 2pm, then rain likely. Otherwise, cloudy, with highs ranging from the lower 60s in the higher elevations to near 70 in the lower elecations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and rain likely overnight. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog. Lows rainging from the upper 50s in the higher elevations to the lower 50s in the lower elevations. Calm winds increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
Thursday
Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Highs ranging from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 70s in the lower elevations. Winds from the remnants of ZETA should be at maximum between 6 am to 6pm in the lower elevations with winds starting as early as 3am in the higher elevations and are expected to continue until 3am or so Friday morning. Winds will be out of the southeast 15 to 20 mph in the lower elevations in the morning and shifting over the course of several hours to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust to between 15 to 25 mph in the lower elevations and to between 20 to 35 mph in the higher elevations. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and two inches possible.
Thursday Night
Showers likely, mainly before 10pm, then a slight chance of rain after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows dropping to near 40 in the higher elevations and the mid-40s on the lower elevations. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph before midnight shifting to come out of the northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the low-to-mid 50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with lows dropping below freezing in the higher elevations and the mid-30s in the lower elevations.
News Brief
(repeat from Saturday)
Cowee Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a Benefit for Junior Firefighter Dakota Collins on Saturday, November 7th. [LINK]
Due to COVID-19 cases within Macon County Animal Services and in preparation to continue essential service delivery at Macon County Public Health, Macon County Animal Services (a section within Macon County Public Health) will be limiting services until at least November 2nd, 2020. [LINK]
The 43rd Prosecutorial District Resumes Jury Trials [LINK]
The NC State Board of Election reminds us that voter intimidation is against the law [LINK]
NCDHHS has issued guidance for Halloween activities during #COVID19. It's strongly recommended that alternate activities, instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, take place. Find out which activities are considered low risk & which should be avoided: [PDF]
NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Fall-Related Events [PDF]
Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.
Cases
748 Detected
(+1 from Monday and +30 from last Tuesday and +126 in four weeks)
30 Active
(-7 from Monday and +9 from last Tuesday and +12 in four weeks)
711 Recovered
(+8 from Monday and +21 from last Tuesday and +114 in four weeks)
7 Deaths
(unchanged from Monday and unchanged from last Tuesday and unchanged in four weeks)
Testing
6321 by MCPH
(unchanged from Monday and +185 from last Tuesday and +660 in four weeks)
2882 by others
(+73 from Monday and +151 from last Tuesday and +678 in four weeks)
9203 total
(+73 from Monday and +336 from last Tuesday and +1398 in four weeks)
90 tests pending results
(-42 from Monday and -6 from last Tuesday and -10 in four weeks)
HAZARDS
Patchy dense fog is possible this morning mainly across the mountain valleys. The fog could stick around into the afternoon hours.
TONIGHT and TOMORROW
A small chance of flooding rainfall and damaging winds is expected for much of the area tonight through Thursday as the remnants of tropical cyclone Zeta sweep across the region. Monitor the latest forecast for updates on this system.
Air Quality
Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green today for all elevations.
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.40 out of 12) with ragweed and chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be bout the same (0.4 out of 12).
Weather Extremes for Macon County for October 28th
Highest Temperature 83°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2014
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.30 inches in Highlands in 1918 Greatest One-Day Snowfall (there has been snowfall recorded on this date since record-keeping began in 1872)
TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)
Tropical Tidbit from Levi Cowan (video recorded yesterday)
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Wed Oct 28 2020
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on recently upgraded Hurricane Zeta, located over the central Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
Tropical Storm Zeta Discussion Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL282020
1000 PM CDT Tue Oct 27 2020
Satellite images show that Zeta is becoming better organized tonight with a ragged eye feature now present, plenty of deep convection and a more symmetric appearance. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft has found increasing winds on this flight, recently recording peak flight-level winds of 65 kt and a minimum pressure of around 990 mb. The initial wind speed is raised to 60 kt on the basis of the wind data.
The improving cloud pattern of Zeta is usually one that favors intensification in the short term. In addition, microwave data from a couple hours ago indicated that a 37 GHz low-level ring was present, which also can be a harbinger of strengthening, and sometimes that strengthening is on the rapid side. Since the storm remains over warm water with fairly light shear, the NHC forecast still anticipates Zeta regaining hurricane intensity within the next 6 hours and making a second landfall as a hurricane. The new NHC forecast is a little higher than the previous one, remaining on the high side of the guidance. After landfall, Zeta is likely to become an extratropical cyclone while it approaches the eastern United States in a couple of days, and become absorbed by the same frontal system.
Zeta is moving northwestward a little faster tonight (325/13 kt). The storm is expected to turn northward and move along the western side of a mid-level anticyclone centered east of Florida through Wednesday morning. A deep cold low (responsible for the southern Plains ice storm) approaching from the west will cause Zeta to sharply accelerate north-northeastward and move inland along the southeastern Louisiana coast Wednesday afternoon. The cyclone should continue to accelerate ahead of the trough and move over the southeastern and eastern U.S. through Thursday. Similar to the last forecast, the official track forecast was moved slightly westward during the first 24 hours, not too dissimilar from a consensus of the latest GFS, UKMET and ECMWF forecasts.
Given Zeta's acceleration near landfall, strong winds are likely to spread well inland along the northern Gulf coast Wednesday night.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. A life-threatening storm surge is expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast by late Wednesday, with the highest inundation occurring somewhere between the Mouth of the Pearl River and Dauphin Island, Alabama. Residents in the Storm Surge Warning area should follow any advice given by local officials.
2. Hurricane conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon within portions of the Hurricane Warning area between Morgan City, Louisiana, and the Mississippi/Alabama border. Damaging winds, especially in gusts, will spread well inland across portions of southeast Mississippi and southern Alabama Wednesday night due to Zeta's fast forward speed.
3. Localized heavy rainfall from Zeta will continue tonight in portions of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and western Cuba where additional flash flooding is possible in urban areas. Between tonight and Thursday, heavy rainfall is expected from portions of the central U.S. Gulf Coast into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic States near and in advance of Zeta. This rainfall will lead to flash, urban, small stream, and minor river flooding.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 28/0300Z 23.8N 91.2W 60 KT 70 MPH
12H 28/1200Z 26.0N 91.7W 75 KT 85 MPH
24H 29/0000Z 30.2N 89.7W 65 KT 75 MPH...INLAND
36H 29/1200Z 35.0N 84.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
48H 30/0000Z 39.5N 74.5W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
60H 30/1200Z...DISSIPATED
CROWDFUNDING 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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
Become a Patron!
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia
Published at 4:50am Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.
Cases
748 Detected
(+1 from Monday and +30 from last Tuesday and +126 in four weeks)
30 Active
(-7 from Monday and +9 from last Tuesday and +12 in four weeks)
711 Recovered
(+8 from Monday and +21 from last Tuesday and +114 in four weeks)
7 Deaths
(unchanged from Monday and unchanged from last Tuesday and unchanged in four weeks)
Testing
6321 by MCPH
(unchanged from Monday and +185 from last Tuesday and +660 in four weeks)
2882 by others
(+73 from Monday and +151 from last Tuesday and +678 in four weeks)
9203 total
(+73 from Monday and +336 from last Tuesday and +1398 in four weeks)
90 tests pending results
(-42 from Monday and -6 from last Tuesday and -10 in four weeks)
HAZARDS
Patchy dense fog is possible this morning mainly across the mountain valleys. The fog could stick around into the afternoon hours.
TONIGHT and TOMORROW
A small chance of flooding rainfall and damaging winds is expected for much of the area tonight through Thursday as the remnants of tropical cyclone Zeta sweep across the region. Monitor the latest forecast for updates on this system.
Air Quality
Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green today for all elevations.
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.40 out of 12) with ragweed and chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be bout the same (0.4 out of 12).
Weather Extremes for Macon County for October 28th
Highest Temperature 83°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2014
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.30 inches in Highlands in 1918 Greatest One-Day Snowfall (there has been snowfall recorded on this date since record-keeping began in 1872)
TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)
Tropical Tidbit from Levi Cowan (video recorded yesterday)
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Wed Oct 28 2020
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on recently upgraded Hurricane Zeta, located over the central Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
Tropical Storm Zeta Discussion Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL282020
1000 PM CDT Tue Oct 27 2020
Satellite images show that Zeta is becoming better organized tonight with a ragged eye feature now present, plenty of deep convection and a more symmetric appearance. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft has found increasing winds on this flight, recently recording peak flight-level winds of 65 kt and a minimum pressure of around 990 mb. The initial wind speed is raised to 60 kt on the basis of the wind data.
The improving cloud pattern of Zeta is usually one that favors intensification in the short term. In addition, microwave data from a couple hours ago indicated that a 37 GHz low-level ring was present, which also can be a harbinger of strengthening, and sometimes that strengthening is on the rapid side. Since the storm remains over warm water with fairly light shear, the NHC forecast still anticipates Zeta regaining hurricane intensity within the next 6 hours and making a second landfall as a hurricane. The new NHC forecast is a little higher than the previous one, remaining on the high side of the guidance. After landfall, Zeta is likely to become an extratropical cyclone while it approaches the eastern United States in a couple of days, and become absorbed by the same frontal system.
Zeta is moving northwestward a little faster tonight (325/13 kt). The storm is expected to turn northward and move along the western side of a mid-level anticyclone centered east of Florida through Wednesday morning. A deep cold low (responsible for the southern Plains ice storm) approaching from the west will cause Zeta to sharply accelerate north-northeastward and move inland along the southeastern Louisiana coast Wednesday afternoon. The cyclone should continue to accelerate ahead of the trough and move over the southeastern and eastern U.S. through Thursday. Similar to the last forecast, the official track forecast was moved slightly westward during the first 24 hours, not too dissimilar from a consensus of the latest GFS, UKMET and ECMWF forecasts.
Given Zeta's acceleration near landfall, strong winds are likely to spread well inland along the northern Gulf coast Wednesday night.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. A life-threatening storm surge is expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast by late Wednesday, with the highest inundation occurring somewhere between the Mouth of the Pearl River and Dauphin Island, Alabama. Residents in the Storm Surge Warning area should follow any advice given by local officials.
2. Hurricane conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon within portions of the Hurricane Warning area between Morgan City, Louisiana, and the Mississippi/Alabama border. Damaging winds, especially in gusts, will spread well inland across portions of southeast Mississippi and southern Alabama Wednesday night due to Zeta's fast forward speed.
3. Localized heavy rainfall from Zeta will continue tonight in portions of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and western Cuba where additional flash flooding is possible in urban areas. Between tonight and Thursday, heavy rainfall is expected from portions of the central U.S. Gulf Coast into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic States near and in advance of Zeta. This rainfall will lead to flash, urban, small stream, and minor river flooding.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 28/0300Z 23.8N 91.2W 60 KT 70 MPH
12H 28/1200Z 26.0N 91.7W 75 KT 85 MPH
24H 29/0000Z 30.2N 89.7W 65 KT 75 MPH...INLAND
36H 29/1200Z 35.0N 84.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
48H 30/0000Z 39.5N 74.5W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
60H 30/1200Z...DISSIPATED
CROWDFUNDING 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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia
Published at 4:50am Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment