OUTLOOK
A warm front will lift northward across the region today. A cold front will approach the southern Appalachians from the northwest tonight and then cross the area on Monday. Dry high pressure will build over from the north as the high center moves from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic coast Monday night into Tuesday. Unsettled weather returns from the west Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Another low pressure system may affect the southeast Friday into Saturday.
---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---
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---
News Highlights
• The Macon County Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting to to consider postponing the Macon Middle School Renovation Project to evaluate alternative plans related to Macon Middle School/Macon Middle School Campus. After a presentation by Commissioner Young and an hour-long discussion, commissioners voted 3-2 to continue with scehuled renovations instead. Higdon and Young voted against. [LINK] • The latest local COVID-19 numbers, charts, and tables have been posted [LINK]
• Macon County Board of Education - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]
• Macon County Board of Commissioners - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]
• Franklin Town Council - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]
• President Orders Flags to be Flown at Half Staff to Remember the 500,000 Americans Lost to COVID-19 - National Cathedral Bell Tolling [LINK]
• NC Governor Orders Flags Lowered Until Sunset Feb 26th in Remembrance of More than 500,000 Americans Lost to COVID-19 [LINK]
• The latest local COVID-19 numbers, charts, and tables have been posted [LINK]
• Annual 4-H Plant Sales for 2021 Announced [LINK]
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Tuesday Night
Franklin area
Franklin area
Today
A slight chance of showers before 11am, then a slight chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs near 70. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tonight Showers, mainly after 2am. Patchy fog after 5am. Lows in the lower 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Showers, mainly before 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Highs near 60. Winds out of the northwest winds 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm after midnight. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-50s. Tuesday Night Rain likely before midnight, then showers, mainly after midnight. Lows in the mid-30s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Highlands area
Today
A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog between 11am and 1pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with highs near 60. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight Showers, mainly after 2am. Patchy fog after 1am. Steady temperature in the mid-50s. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Showers, mainly before 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. High in the mid-50s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Winds out of he north 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Tuesday Night Rain showers, snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely before 2am, then rain showers. Lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Otto area
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs near 70. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tonight Showers, mainly after 2am. Patchy fog after 5am. Lows in the lower 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Showers, mainly before 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Highs near 60. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Tuesday Night Rain likely before midnight, then showers, mainly after midnight. Lows in the mid-30s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Nantahala area
Today
A slight chance of showers before 7am, then a slight chance of showers after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tonight Showers, mainly after 1am. Patchy fog after 5am. Lows around 50. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Monday Showers, mainly before 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. High in the mid-50s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm after midnight. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs near 50. Tuesday Night Rain likely before midnight, then showers, mainly after midnight. Lows in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
HAZARDS
Hazardous weather is not excpected today.
Heavy rain showers are expected to develop on tonight and linger into Monday morning as a cold front crosses the region. The rain could be sufficient for isolated flooding to develop in some locations, especially across the far southern mountains of western North Carolina.
Air Quality
Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (8.9 out of 12) today with Alder and Maple being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be much higher, in the medium-high range (3.2 out of 12).
Weather Extremes for Macon County on February 27th
Highest Temperature 79°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1996
Lowest Temperature 6°F in Highlands in 1963
Greatest One-Day Rain 4.00 inches in Highlands in 1913
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 6.0 inches in Nantahala in 1982
February Weather Extremes for Macon County
Highest Temperature 79°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Feb 28, 1996
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Feb 13, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.37 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Feb 13, 1966
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 15.0 inches in Highlands on Feb 14, 1912
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 4:30am on Sunday, February 28, 2021