Weather Briefing for Sunday, February 21, 2021

OUTLOOK

High pressure will dominate our weather for most of the weekend with cool temperatures and low humidity. Precipitation chances return late Sunday night and Monday as a cold front crosses over the region. Warm high pressure will return to the southeast for the middle of next week, followed by another weather system Thursday night and Friday.


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News Highlights

• Rabies Positive Skunk and Racoon Found in Macon County [LINK]

• The latest local COVID-19 numbers, charts, and tables have been posted [LINK]

• Macon County Board of Commissioners regular meeting for February 2021 [LINK]

• Annual 4-H Plant Sales for 2021 Announced [LINK]



National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Tuesday Night


Franklin area

Today

Sunny, with highs near 50. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. Tonight A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 2am. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday Rain, mainly before 1pm. Highs near 50. Winds out of the south around 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly clear, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows around freezing.

Highlands area

Today

Sunny, with highs near 40. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A chance of freezing rain and sleet before 2am, then sleet likely between 2am and 5am, then freezing rain and sleet likely after 5am. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with lows around 30. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Monday Rain or freezing rain likely before 8am, then rain. Patchy fog before 7am. Highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Winds out of the south winds 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Monday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with highs near 50. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows around 30.

Otto area

Today

Sunny, with highs near 50. Light winds out of the southeast early increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. Tonight A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1am. Patchy fog in the morning. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday Rain, mainly before 1pm. Highs near 50. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly clear, with lows around freezing. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows around freezing.

Nantahala area

Today

Sunny, with highs in thge upper 40s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. Tonight A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after 2am. Increasing clouds, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday Rain, mainly before 1pm. Highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the morning increasing to come out of the west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Mostly clear, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with lows around freezing.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not excpected today.

Periods of wintry precipitation is likely tonight into Monday across the North Carolina mountains and areas east around the I-40 corridor. Light ice accumulation is expected, mainly across the southern mountains of North Carolina.



Air Quality

Air quality is in the lower range of yellow for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the medium range (6.6 out of 12) with Elm, Juniper, and Alder being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (2.7 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on February 21st


Highest Temperature 75°F in Franklin in 1986
Lowest Temperature -5°F in Highlands in 18965
Greatest One-Day Rain 3.81 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1953
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 5.5 inches in Franklin in 1960

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 

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Published at 4:00am on Sunday, February 21, 2021