Overnight Weather Briefing for Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Above is a graphic showing winds that are forecast to come out of the northwest and freezing temperatures spilling into the southeast overnight tonight and into tomorrow. The time represented is the forecast for 4am Thursday morning (04-01-2021).

Here is a weather briefing for the overnight period and tomorrow.

A strong cold front will move off the Carolina coast early Thursday. Unseasonably cold high pressure will build in behind the front tonight and settle over the region for the rest of the week. Expect an upper-level ridge to build over the region from Sunday into next week, continuing dry, but warmer weather. The next rain maker will approach our region in the middle of next week.


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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.


Franklin Area

Overnight

A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around freezing. Wind chills will be in the upper 40s at 9pm and drop to the lower 20s by 6am. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Wind chills will peak in the mid-30s in the late afternoon. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph, peaking between noon and 3pm.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the lower 20s. Wind chills will drop to the upper teens by daybreak. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Highlands Plateau

Overnight

A chance of rain showers, possibly mixing with snow after midnight, then gradually ending. Patchy fog before 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradual clearing toward daybreak, with lows in the mid-20s. Wind chills will be around 40 at 9pm and drop to the low-to-mid teens around 6am. Winds out of the west 5 to 15 mph increasing and shifting to come out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph before midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph, especially after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday (wind chills will be below freezing all day)

Sunny, with highs in the mid-30s. Wind chills will climb from the low-to-mid teens in the morning to the mid-20s by 3pm, the drop to near 20 at 6pm. Winds out of the northwest 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Thursday Night (wind chills below 20 all night)

Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Wind chills will start out around 20 at 6pm and drop to around 10 by 6am. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Otto area

Overnight

A 50 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around freezing. Wind chills will start out in the lower 40s around 9pm and drop to the lower 20s by 6am. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Wind chills will start out in the lower 20s at 6am and increase to the mid-30s around 4pm and then drop to around 30 by 6pm. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph, peaking between noon and 6pm.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the lower 20s. Wind chills around 30 at 6p, then drop to the mid-teens by 6am. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Nantahala area

Showers likely before midnight, then a slight chance of rain. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around 30. Winds chill around 40 at 9am dropping to around 20 by 6am. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 40. Wind chills start out around 20 at 6am increasing to around 30 by 4pm, then dropping down to the mid-20s at 6pm. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the lower 20s. Wind chills in the mid-20s at 6pm, then dropping to the mid-teens at 6am. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Hazardous Weather

A wind field associated with a front and a steep pressure gradient from a high pressure passing by to our north overnight and through the day tomorrow. There is also a chance of minor snow showers above 3500 feet around midnight, but the high winds will keep any of it from accumulating in most areas. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for tomorrow for anticipated high winds. Tree limbs may fall, some of the on powerlines and any lawn furniture you leave out may get blown around.

Wind Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
259 PM EDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM EDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

* WHERE...Portions of upstate South Carolina, northeast Georgia and western North Carolina.

* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 2 PM EDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Much colder air will move into the region behind a strong cold front this evening. Precipitation may change to light snow and/or light freezing rain at elevations above 5000 feet by midnight. No significant ice accumulation is expected, but some of the highest elevations of the northern mountains could get up to one inch of snow before it tapers off Thursday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.


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Published at 8:55pm on Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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Weather Briefing for Wednesday, March 31, 2021

OUTLOOK

A strong cold front will cross the area from the northwest later today, bringing a round of showers and thunderstorms. Unseasonably cold high pressure will build in behind the front tonight and settle over the region for the rest of the week. Expect an upper level ridge to build over the region from Sunday into next week, continuing dry, but warmer weather.

Weather Alert We are under a Flash Food Watch today. The National Weather Service has forecast heavy rain for today that could lead to minor flooding.
---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---


• Scientists Use Data Collected by Citizen Scientists and Bird Watchers to Map Bird Migration [LINK]

• CDC Extends Moratorium on Renter Evictions to June 30 Pisgah Legal Services Urges People in WNC to Seek Legal Help, Know Their Rights [LINK]



National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Friday Night


Franklin area

Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible. Tonight Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Lows around freezing. 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, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Thursday Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. WInds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the low-to-mid 20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Friday Sunny, with highs near 50. Friday Night Clear, with lows in the mid-20s.

Highlands area

Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5pm. Patchy fog before 2pm. Highs near 60. WInds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Patchy fog before midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Thursday Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Friday Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Friday Night Clear, with lows in the mid-20s.

Otto area

Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible. Tonight Showers, mainly before midnight. Lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Thursday Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with lows in the low-to-mid 20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Friday Sunny, with highs near 50. Friday Night Clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s.

Nantahala area

Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Tonight Rain showers, possibly mixing with snow after 1am, then gradually ending. Lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Thursday Mostly sunny, with highs near 40. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 20s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Friday Sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Friday Night Clear, with lows in the upper 20s.





HAZARDS

A late season strong cold front is forecast to push through the area Wednesday and may support strong to severe thunderstorms, with damaging wind gusts being the main threat. Heavy rain may cause localized flooding.

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1030 PM EDT Tue Mar 30 2021

...HEAVY RAINFALL RETURNING TO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS WEDNESDAY MORNING...

.Strong lift and deep moisture preceding a cold front likely will combine to produce periods of heavy rainfall over the southern Appalachians. Particularly in areas below southwest-facing ridges, an elevated risk of flash flooding will exist. The threat is greatest during the morning and early afternoon, but will not diminish until the cold front passes Wednesday evening.

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* portions of northeast Georgia, western North Carolina, and upstate South Carolina, including the following counties,

in northeast Georgia, Habersham and Rabun.

In western North Carolina, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Northern Jackson, Southern Jackson, Swain, and Transylvania.

In upstate South Carolina, Greenville Mountains, Oconee Mountains, and Pickens Mountains.

* from 8 AM EDT Wednesday through Wednesday evening

* Strong lift and deep moisture preceding a cold front likely will combine to produce periods of heavy rainfall over the southern Appalachians and adjacent foothills near the southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. A total of 2 to 3 inches of rain can be expected in the most favored areas, south and southwest facing ridges.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.


Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today also being in the upper range of green.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (3.2 out of 12) today with Juniper, Oak, and Maple being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be higher, in the medium-high range (8.8 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 31st


Highest Temperature 82°F Franklin in 1963
Lowest Temperature 13°F in Highlands in 1964
Greatest One-Day Rain 2.37 inches in Highlands in 1976
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 0.2 inches in Highlands in 1966

March Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993 

On This Day

Historical Events

307 – After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Maximian. 1084 - Anti-pope Clemens crowns German King Hendrik IV as Holy Roman Emperor 1146 – Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII is present, and joins the Crusade. 1492 – Queen Isabella of Castile issues the Alhambra Decree, ordering her 150,000 Jewish and Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity or face expulsion. 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines. 1717 – A sermon on "The Nature of the Kingdom of Christ" by Benjamin Hoadly, the Bishop of Bangor, preached in the presence of King George I of Great Britain, provokes the Bangorian Controversy. 1761 – The 1761 Lisbon earthquake strikes off the Iberian Peninsula with an estimated magnitude of 8.5, six years after another quake destroyed the city. 1774 – American Revolutionary War: The Kingdom of Great Britain orders the port of Boston, Massachusetts closed pursuant to the Boston Port Act. 1854 – Commodore Matthew Perry signs the Convention of Kanagawa with the Tokugawa Shogunate, opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade. 1885 – The United Kingdom establishes the Bechuanaland Protectorate. 1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened. 1899 – Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces. 1901 – Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák premiéres at the National Opera House in Praque. 1906 – The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (later the National Collegiate Athletic Association) is established to set rules for college sports in the United States. 1909 – Serbia formally withdraws its opposition to Austro-Hungarian actions in the Bosnian Crisis. 1913 – The Vienna Concert Society rioted during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Anton von Webern, causing a premature end to the concert due to violence; this concert became known as the Skandalkonzert. 1917 – According to the terms of the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, the islands become American possessions. 1918 – Massacre of ethnic Azerbaijanis is committed by allied armed groups of Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Bolsheviks. Nearly 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims are killed. 1918 – Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time. 1920 - British parliament accepts Irish Home Rule law 1921 – The Royal Australian Air Force is formed. 1930 – The Motion Picture Production Code is instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the U.S., for the next thirty-eight years. 1931 – An earthquake in Nicaragua destroys Managua; killing 2,000. 1931 – A Transcontinental & Western Air airliner crashes near Bazaar, Kansas, killing eight, including University of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. 1933 – The Civilian Conservation Corps is established with the mission of relieving rampant unemployment in the United States. 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces invade Christmas Island, then a British possession. 1945 – World War II: A defecting German pilot delivers a Messerschmitt Me 262A-1, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft, to the Americans, the first to fall into Allied hands. 1949 – The Dominion of Newfoundland joins the Canadian Confederation and becomes the 10th Province of Canada. 1951 – Remington Rand delivers the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau. 1957 – Elections to the Territorial Assembly of the French colony Upper Volta are held. After the elections PDU and MDV form a government. 1958 – In the Canadian federal election, the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Diefenbaker, win the largest percentage of seats in Canadian history, with 208 seats of 265. 1959 – The 14th Dalai Lama, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum. 1964 – Brazilian General Olímpio Mourão Filho orders his troops to move towards Rio de Janeiro, beginning the coup d'état. 1966 – The Soviet Union launches Luna 10 which later becomes the first space probe to enter orbit around the Moon. 1968 – American President Lyndon B. Johnson speaks to the nation of "Steps to Limit the War in Vietnam" in a television address. At the conclusion of his speech, he announces: "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President." 1970 – Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit. 1980 – The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad operates its final train after being ordered to liquidate its assets because of bankruptcy and debts owed to creditors. 1990 – Approximately 200,000 protesters take to the streets of London to protest against the newly introduced Poll Tax. 1991 – Georgian independence referendum: Nearly 99 percent of the voters support the country's independence from the Soviet Union. 1992 – The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California. 1992 – The Treaty of Federation is signed in Moscow. 1995 – Selena is murdered by her fan club's president Yolanda Saldívar at a Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas after accusations emerged of Saldívar embezzling money from Selena's fan club. 1995 – TAROM Flight 371, an Airbus A310-300, crashes near Balotesti, Romania, killing all 60 people on board. 1998 – Netscape releases Mozilla source code under an open source license. 2004 – Iraq War in Anbar Province: In Fallujah, Iraq, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA, are killed after being ambushed. 2018 – Start of the 2018 Armenian revolution. 2020 - British pensioner Robert Weighton becomes the world's oldest man at 112 years


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Published at 4:40am on Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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Scientists Use Data Collected by Citizen Scientists and Bird Watchers to Map Bird Migration

This may be of interest to local bird watchers.

From the article at All About Birds:

Scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have documented migratory movements of bird populations spanning the entire year for 118 species throughout the Western Hemisphere using millions of observations from the eBird citizen-science database. 

Read more about the work at [All About Birds], by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

REFERENCE

La Sorte, F.A., D. Fink, W.M. Hochachka, and S. Kelling. 2016. Convergence of broad-scale migration strategies in terrestrial birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 10.1098/rspb.2015.2588.

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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!


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Published at 4:44pam on Tuesday, March 30, 2021

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CDC Extends Moratorium on Renter Evictions to June 30 Pisgah Legal Services Urges People in WNC to Seek Legal Help, Know Their Rights

PRESS RELEASE (03-30-2021)

PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES

Just as it was about to expire at the end of March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an extension of the national ban that temporarily halts evictions for millions of renters. The new order extends the moratorium to June 30, 2021. An estimated 435,000 North Carolinians are currently behind on their rent.

The order requires that renters meet certain criteria, including:

• Have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or up to $99,000 for individuals.
• Show they have sought government assistance to pay their rent.
• Declare they are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19.
• Affirm they are likely to become homeless or will be forced to stay with friends or family if they are evicted.
• Show they have lost income.

Renters must fill out and submit a copy of the CDC declaration form – available at local courthouses and also www.pisgahlegal.org/federal-eviction-moratorium/. Renters should submit the form in English to their landlords or to their local court. Pisgah Legal advises keeping another dated copy as well.

Pisgah Legal Services Executive Director Jim Barrett says, “This is very good news for many folks across the country and those right here in our mountain region. Federal relief is on its way, and we hope this extension will allow for the time that is needed to get these funds to those who are worried about losing their homes.”

He continued, “In the meantime, we encourage people to fill out the CDC form and work with their landlords to pay what they can because the moratorium does not mean that rent is forgiven. And if they have questions or need additional help to contact Pisgah Legal Services.” 

In addition to the moratorium, renters should also know these basic rights:

1. A tenant cannot be made to move from a rental home without a court order.  Tenants have a right to appear in court and defend themselves. Any attempt made to remove a tenant by anyone or any means except the Sheriff’s Department is illegal. 
2. In most cases, landlords cannot legally terminate a tenant’s electricity, water, or heat source as a method of forcing them to leave a rental unit. 
3. Do not move out without talking to an attorney. Tenants may have rights and defenses that they do not know about.  There may be financial resources available tenants are unaware of.  Even if a tenant is behind in rent, do not move out without finding out your options. Eviction actions can happen quickly without an attorney, and they can be slowed down to prevent homelessness with the aid of an attorney.

 

Pisgah Legal Services, a nonprofit that provides free civil legal aid in Western North Carolina, continues to assist people with low incomes. Staff and volunteer attorneys are helping clients and taking new applications for assistance with critical needs that include:

• evictions and foreclosures
• domestic violence
• coping with debts and avoiding scams
• unemployment and other government benefits
• and health care.

Need Help?
If you or someone you know needs help, call Pisgah Legal’s main phone lines at 828-253-0406, or 800-489-6144. Online applications are also being accepted: www.pisgahlegal.org/free-legal-assistance. Pisgah Legal staff and volunteer attorneys continue to work remotely and will be in touch via phone and/or email. 

 

About Pisgah Legal Services
Since 1978, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services has provided free civil legal aid to help people with low incomes seek justice and meet their basic needs. Pisgah Legal provides a broad array of legal services in 11 WNC counties and offers health and immigration law services in 18 counties. Last year PLS served more than 20,000 people across the mountain region.

PLS has offices in Asheville, Burnsville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Highlands/Cashiers, Marshall, Newland, and Rutherfordton. In addition to the attorneys on staff, Pisgah Legal relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of approximately 300 volunteer attorneys.

 

Want to Help Others?

You can aid this important work. Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: ally@pisgahlegal.org. Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, N.C.  28802

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Weather Briefing for Tuesday, March 30, 2021

OUTLOOK

A strong cold front pushes across our region from the northwest Wednesday, bringing a round of showers and thunderstorms. After that cold front moves through Wednesday night, expect some unseasonably cool weather for the end of the week.


---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---


• Local COVID-19 Numbers [Facebook]

• Videos of the first Vietnam Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony in Franklin, NC [LINK]

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial



National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Thursday Night


Franklin area

Today

Sunny in the morning with increasing clouds. Highs near 70. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy before midnight. Lows in the mid-50s. Light and variable winds. 80% chance of rain.

Wednesday

Rain with thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Light and variable winds, except in thunderstorms. 100% chance of rain.

Wednesday Night

Showers, mainly after 2am. Lows near 50. calm winds. Chance of rain is 80%.

Highlands area

Today

Sunny with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds out of the south around 5 mph.

Tonight

Showers, mainly 2am. Lows in the upper 40s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Chance of rain is 100%.

Wednesday Night

A 30% chance of showers before 2am. Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s.

Otto area

Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Showers, mainly after 2am. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 60%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs in the mid-60s. Chance of rain is 100%.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows near freezing. Chance of precipitation (could be mixed wintry) is 60%.

Nantahala area

Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. WInds out of the south 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight

Showers, mainly after 2am. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs near 60. Chance of rain is 100%.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60%.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today.

Heavy rain is expected Wednesday, which may lead to minor flooding in locations with poor drainage.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today also being in the upper range of green.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the high range (10.6 out of 12) today with Juniper, Oak, and Maple being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be much lower, in the low-medium range (2.9 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 30th


Highest Temperature 83°F Franklin in 1985
Lowest Temperature 8°F in Highlands in 1894
Greatest One-Day Rain 5.41 inches in Nantahala in 1975
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Highlands in 1915

March Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993 

On This Day

Historical Events

240 BC – 1st recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet 598 – Balkan Campaign: The Avars lift the siege at the Byzantine stronghold of Tomis. Their leader Bayan I retreats north of the Danube River after the Avaro-Slavic hordes are decimated by the plague. 804 - Ludger becomes 1st Bishop of Münster in the Holy Roman Empire 988 - Boudouin IV with the Beard becomes earl of Flanders 1282 – The people of Sicily rebel against the Angevin king Charles I, in what becomes known as the Sicilian Vespers. 1296 – Edward I sacks Berwick-upon-Tweed, during armed conflict between Scotland and England. 0603 - Battle at Mellifont: English army under Lord Mountjoy beats Irish 1699 – Guru Gobind Singh establishes the Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. 1814 - Napoleonic Wars: Sixth Coalition forces march into Paris after defeating Napoleon 1815 – Joachim Murat issues the Rimini Proclamation which would later inspire Italian unification. 1818 – Physicist Augustin Fresnel reads a memoir on optical rotation to the French Academy of Sciences, reporting that when polarized light is "depolarized" by a Fresnel rhomb, its properties are preserved in any subsequent passage through an optically-rotating crystal or liquid. 1822 – The Florida Territory is created in the United States. 1841 – The National Bank of Greece is founded in Athens. 1842 – Ether anesthesia is used for the first time, in an operation by the American surgeon Dr. Crawford Long. 1844 – One of the most important battles of the Dominican War of Independence from Haiti takes place near the city of Santiago de los Caballeros. 1855 – Origins of the American Civil War: "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invade Kansas and force election of a pro-slavery legislature. 1856 – The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Crimean War. 1861 – Discovery of the chemical elements: Sir William Crookes announces his discovery of thallium. 1863 – Danish prince Wilhelm Georg is chosen as King George of Greece. 1867 – Alaska is purchased from Russia for $7.2 million, about 2-cent/acre ($4.19/km2), by United States Secretary of State William H. Seward. 1870 – Texas is readmitted to the United States Congress following Reconstruction. 1885 – The Battle for Kushka triggers the Panjdeh Incident which nearly gives rise to war between the Russian and British Empires. 1899 – German Society of Chemistry issues an invitation to other national scientific organizations to appoint delegates to the International Committee on Atomic Weights. 1912 – Sultan Abd al-Hafid signs the Treaty of Fez, making Morocco a French protectorate. 1918 – Outburst of bloody March Events in Baku and other locations of Baku Governorate. 1939 – The Heinkel He 100 fighter sets a world airspeed record of 463 mph (745 km/h). 1940 – Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan declares Nanking capital of a new Chinese puppet government, nominally controlled by Wang Jingwei. 1944 – World War II: Allied bombers conduct their most severe bombing run on Sofia, Bulgaria. 1944 – Out of 795 Lancasters, Halifaxes and Mosquitos sent to attack Nuremberg, 95 bombers do not return, making it the largest RAF Bomber Command loss of the war. 1945 – World War II: Soviet forces invade Austria and capture Vienna. Polish and Soviet forces liberate Danzig. 1949 – Cold War: A riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, when Iceland joins NATO. 1959 – Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, flees Tibet for India. 1961 – The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is signed in New York City. 1965 – Vietnam War: A car bomb explodes in front of the United States Embassy, Saigon, killing 22 and wounding 183 others. 1972 – Vietnam War: The Easter Offensive begins after North Vietnamese forces cross into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of South Vietnam. 1976 – Israeli-Palestinian conflict: in the first organized response against Israeli policies by a Palestinian collective since 1948, Palestinians create the first Land Day. 1979 – Airey Neave, a British Member of Parliament, is killed by a car bomb as he exits the Palace of Westminster. The Irish National Liberation Army claims responsibility. 1981 – U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley, Jr.; three others are wounded in the same incident. 1982 – Space Shuttle program: STS-3 mission is completed with the landing of Columbia at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. 2002 – The 2002 Lyon car attack takes place. 2009 – Twelve gunmen attack the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan. 2017 – SpaceX conducts the world's first reflight of an orbital class rocket. 2020 - International Olympic Committee announces postponed 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be held July 23-August 8 in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic 2020 - Three out of four Americans now ordered to stay home due to COVID-19 as states of Virginia, Maryland, Arizona and Florida issue lockdowns


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Published at 4:20am on Tuesday, March 302021

Read More

Weather Briefing for Monday, March 29, 2021

OUTLOOK

Dry and cool high pressure builds into the area today, then moves off the Mid-Atlantic coast tonight through Tuesday. A strong cold front pushes across our region from the northwest Wednesday, bringing a round of showers and thunderstorms. After that cold front moves through Wednesday night, expect some unseasonably cool weather for the end of the week.


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National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Wednesday Night


Franklin area

Today

Sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds.

Tonight

Clear with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Light winds out of the southeast.

Tuesday

Sunny with highs in the upper 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of thesouth 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Showers, mainly after 2am. Lows near 50. calm winds. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs in the mid-60s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of rain is 60%.

Highlands area

Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-50s. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph becoming calm by midmorning.

Tonight

Claer, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds out of the south around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night

Showers, mainly 2am. Lows in the upper 40s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

A 30% chance of showers before 2am. Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s.

Otto area

Today

Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s. Winds out of the north becoming calm by midmorning.

Tonight

Clear, with lows near 40. Winds out of the south around 5pm becoming calm before midnight.

Tuesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

Showers, mainly after 2am. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 60%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs in the mid-60s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows near freezing. Chance of precipitation (could be mixed wintry) is 60%.

Nantahala area

Today

Sunny, with highs near 60. Light winds out of the north.

Tonight

Clear, with lows around 40. Light winds out of the southeast.

Tuesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. WInds out of the south 3 to 5 mph.

Tuesday Night

Showers, mainly after 2am. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday

Showers. Highs near 60. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60%.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today.



Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today also being in the upper range of green.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the high range (10.4 out of 12) today with Juniper, Oak, and Maple being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected about the same 10.1 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 29th


Highest Temperature 79°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2004
Lowest Temperature 11°F in Highlands in 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands in 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall (no snowfall recorded on this date)

March Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993 

On This Day

Historical Events

845 – Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collects a huge ransom in exchange for leaving. 1430 – The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice. 1461 – Battle of Towton: Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England, bringing a temporary stop to the Wars of the Roses. 1500 – Cesare Borgia is given the title of Captain General and Gonfalonier by his father Rodrigo Borgia after returning from his conquests in the Romagna. 1549 – The city of Salvador da Bahia, the first capital of Brazil, is founded. 1632 – Treaty of Saint-Germain is signed returning Quebec to French control after the English had seized it in 1629. 1792 – King Gustav III of Sweden dies after being shot in the back at a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm's Royal Opera 13 days earlier. He is succeeded by Gustav IV Adolf. 1806 – Construction is authorized of the Great National Pike, better known as the Cumberland Road, becoming the first United States federal highway. 1809 – King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden abdicates after a coup d'état. At the Diet of Porvoo, Finland's four Estates pledge allegiance to Alexander I of Russia, commencing the secession of the Grand Duchy of Finland from Sweden. 1831 – Great Bosnian uprising: Bosniaks rebel against Turkey. 1847 – Mexican–American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege. 1849 – The United Kingdom annexes the Punjab. 1857 – Sepoy Mangal Pandey of the 34th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry mutinies against the East India Company's rule in India and inspires the protracted Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny. 1865 – American Civil War: Federal forces under Major General Philip Sheridan move to flank Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee as the Appomattox Campaign begins. 1867 – Queen Victoria gives Royal Assent to the British North America Act which establishes Canada on July 1. 1867 – Congress approves Lincoln Memorial 1871 – Royal Albert Hall is opened by Queen Victoria. 1879 – Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Kambula: British forces defeat 20,000 Zulus. 1882 – The Knights of Columbus is established. 1886 – John Pemberton brews the first batch of Coca-Cola in a backyard in Atlanta. 1911 – The M1911 .45 ACP pistol becomes the official U.S. Army side arm. 1927 – Sunbeam 1000hp breaks the land speed record at Daytona Beach, Florida. 1930 – Heinrich Brüning is appointed German Reichskanzler. 1936 – The 1936 German parliamentary election and referendum seeks approval for the recent remilitarization of the Rhineland. 1941 – The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement goes into effect at 03:00 local time. 1941 – World War II: British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy forces defeat those of the Italian Regia Marina off the Peloponnesian coast of Greece in the Battle of Cape Matapan. 1942 – The Bombing of Lübeck in World War II is the first major success for the RAF Bomber Command against Germany and a German city. 1945 – World War II: Last day of V-1 flying bomb attacks on England. 1945 – World War II: The German 4th Army is almost destroyed by the Soviet Red Army. 1946 – Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, one of Mexico's leading universities, is founded. 1947 – Malagasy Uprising against French colonial rule in Madagascar. 1951 – Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. 1957 – The New York, Ontario and Western Railway makes its final run, the first major U.S. railroad to be abandoned in its entirety. 1961 – The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, allowing residents of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections. 1961 – After a four year trial Nelson Mandela is acquitted on treason charge 1962 – Arturo Frondizi, the president of Argentina, is overthrown in a military coup by Argentina's armed forces, ending an 11​1⁄2 day constitutional crisis. 1971 – My Lai Massacre: Lieutenant William Calley is convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison. 1973 – Vietnam War: The last United States combat soldiers leave South Vietnam. 1973 – Operation Barrel Roll, a covert American bombing campaign in Laos to stop communist infiltration of South Vietnam, ends. 1974 – NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first space probe to fly by Mercury. 1974 – Terracotta Army was discovered in Shaanxi province, China. 1982 – The Canada Act 1982 receives the Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth II, setting the stage for the Queen of Canada to proclaim the Constitution Act, 1982. 1984 – The Baltimore Colts load its possessions onto fifteen Mayflower moving trucks in the early morning hours and transfer its operations to Indianapolis. 1990 – The Czechoslovak parliament is unable to reach an agreement on what to call the country after the fall of Communism, sparking the so-called Hyphen War. 1993 – Catherine Callbeck becomes premier of Prince Edward Island and the first woman to be elected in a general election as premier of a Canadian province. 1994 – Serbs and Croats sign a peace treaty to end the war in Croatia 1999 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above the 10,000 mark (10,006.78) for the first time, during the height of the dot-com bubble. 1999 – A magnitude 6.8 earthquake in India strikes the Chamoli district in Uttar Pradesh, killing 103. 2002 – In reaction to the Passover massacre two days prior, Israel launches Operation Defensive Shield against Palestinian militants, its largest military operation in the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. 2004 – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO as full members. 2010 – Two suicide bombers hit the Moscow Metro system at the peak of the morning rush hour, killing 40. 2013 – At least 36 people are killed when a 16-floor building collapses in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 2014 – The first same-sex marriages in England and Wales are performed. 2017 – Prime Minister Theresa May invokes Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union, formally beginning the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.


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Published at 3:50am on Moday, March 29, 2021

Read More

Weather Briefing for Sunday, March 28, 2021

OUTLOOK

A strong cold front will cross our area today, triggering another round of showers and thunderstorms. Behind the front, temperatures will return to normal as high pressure builds in for Monday. More unsettled weather looks to be in store for the region by the middle of the week as another strong cold front reaches our region from the northwest. After that cold front moves through Wednesday night, expect some cool weather for the end of the week.

Weather Alert

There is a line of storms headed our way and they are expected to cross Macon County sometime this morning before 9am. The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for these storms and will upgrade to Thunderstorm Warnings as conditions warrant. Macon County is also under a Flash Flood Watch due to the ground being saturated and stream and river levels still being high from the storms of the last couple of days.
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National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Monday Night


Franklin area

Today
(Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 9am)


Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers. Areas of fog hours after storms roll through. Highs near 70. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds.

Monday Night

Clear, with lows in the upper 30s. Calm winds.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Highlands area
(Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 9am)


Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then a chance of showers. Highs near 60. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-50s. WInds out of the north around 5 mph becoming calm by midmorning.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Calm winds.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-50s.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Otto area
(Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 9am)


Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers. Areas of fog in the late morning hours after storms roll through. Highs near 70. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph becoming the morning shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Light and variable winds.

Monday Night

Clear, with lows around 40. Calm winds.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Nantahala area
(Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 9am)


Today

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog after the storms roll through. Highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the southwest wind 5 to 10 in the morning shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs near 60. Light and variable winds.

Monday Night

Clear, with lows around 40. Calm winds.

Tuesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Tuesday Night

Rain, mainly after 9pm. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.



HAZARDS

Macon County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9am for a line of storms that is approaching out area from the west. A line of thunderstorms is expected to cross the area from west to east during the late morning to mid-afternoon hours on Sunday. Damaging winds will be the main threat, but a few storms may produce large hail, as well.

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
408 AM EDT Sun Mar 28 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* A portion of western North Carolina, including the following areas, Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Polk Mountains, Rutherford Mountains, Southern Jackson, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey.

* Through this evening.

* Elevated stream levels and nearly saturated soils combined with additional heavy rainfall could result in flash flooding developing quickly.

* Due to the already elevated stream levels, only an inch or two of additional rainfall could be enough to result in flash flooding along smaller creeks and streams, especially those that have experienced flooding during the past week. Runoff could also trigger isolated landslides in mountainous terrain. Additional heavy rainfall may also slow the improvement in ongoing flood conditions along some main stem rivers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.






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Published at 4:35am on Sunday, March 28, 2021

Read More

Daily Weather Briefing for Saturday, March 27, 2021

OUTLOOK

An active weather pattern will continue this weekend as a stationary front just south of our area lifts north as a warm front on Saturday. Another cold front arrives from the west on Sunday with another round of thunderstorms. This cold front crosses our region late Sunday and Sunday night. Expect cool and dry high pressure to return early next week.


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President Orders Flag Lowered Until Sunset March 27th for Victims of Mass Shooting in Boulder, Colorado [LINK]

Governor Introduces Budget Proposal (2021-2023 Biennium) [LINK] Local COVID-19 Numbers for 03-25-2021 [LINK]

NC Coronavirus Taskforce Briefing for 03-23-2021 [ENGLISH] [SPANISH] Macon County Board of Education March 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

COLUMN: Don’t Postpone Seeking Care at Angel Medical Center During the Pandemic, It Could Mean the Difference Between a Manageable and a Serious Condition, and Even Life or Death [LINK]



National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Monday Night


Franklin area

Today
( )


A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 7am and increasing as the day progresses. Increasing clouds, with highs in the low-to-mid 70s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Cloudy, with lows around 60. Calm winds increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday (chance of severe thunderstorms)

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Highs near 70. Winds out of the south 10 to 15 mph shifting to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Wind speeds will peak between 11am and 5pm, from west to east as the wind field (and thunderstorms) crosses the county. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 40.

Highlands area
( )


Today

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7am. Increasing clouds, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

A chance of showers before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 10pm. Cloudy, with lows in the mid-50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday (chance of severe thunderstorms)

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the southwest 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Wind speeds will peak between noon and 5pm. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-50s.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 40.

Otto area
( )


Today

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds, with highs near 70. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Cloudy, with lows around 60. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday (chance of severe thunderstorms)

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Highs near 70. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Wind speeds will peak between noon and 3pm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the lower 40s.

Nantahala area
( )


Today

A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 7am. Increasing clouds, with highs in he upper 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 60. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday (chance of severe thunderstorms)

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wind speeds will peak between 11am and 2pm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wind speeds will peak between 8pm and midnight.

Monday

Sunny, with highs near 60.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the lower 40s.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today.

Another round of thunderstorms is expected on Sunday. Some of these storms may become severe, producing damaging wind and large hail.



Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today also being in the upper range of green.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the medium-high range (8.1 out of 12) today with Juniper, Oak, and Maple being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to lower, in the medium range (4.9 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 27th


Highest Temperature 79°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2007
Lowest Temperature 4°F in Highlands in 1894
Greatest One-Day Rain 3.34 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1965
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 4.8 inches in Highlands in 1971

March Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993 

On This Day

Historical Events

196BC Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 – Pope Clement V imposes excommunication and interdiction on Venice, and a general prohibition of all commercial intercourse with Venice, which had seized on Ferrara, a papal fiefdom. 1329 – Pope John XXII issues his In Agro Dominico condemning some writings of Meister Eckhart as heretical. 1513 – Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León reaches the northern end of The Bahamas on his first voyage to Florida. 1613 – The first English child born in Canada at Cuper's Cove, Newfoundland to Nicholas Guy 1625 – Charles I becomes King of England, Scotland and Ireland as well as claiming the title King of France. 1668 – English king Charles II gives Bombay to East India Company 1708 – Pretender to the English throne James III flees to Dunkirk 1713 – Spain loses Menorca and Gibraltar to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht 1782 – The Second Rockingham ministry assumes office in Britain and begins negotiations to end the American War of Independence. 1794 – The United States Government establishes a permanent navy and authorizes the building of six frigates. 1809 – Peninsular War: A combined Franco-Polish force defeats the Spanish in the Battle of Ciudad Real. 1814 – War of 1812: In central Alabama, U.S. forces under General Andrew Jackson defeat the Creek at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. 1841 - 1st US steam fire engine tested in New York City 1836 – Texas Revolution: On the orders of General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican army massacres 342 Texas POWs at Goliad, Texas. 1855 - Abraham Gesner patents kerosene 1863 - Confederate President Jefferson Davis calls for this to be a day of fasting and prayer 1865 - Siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama is captured by Federals 1866 – President of the United States of America Andrew Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866. His veto is overridden by Congress and the bill passes into law on April 9. 1871 – The first international rugby football match, when Scotland defeats England in Edinburgh at Raeburn Place. 1884 – A mob in Cincinnati, Ohio, attacks members of a jury which had returned a verdict of manslaughter in what was seen as a clear case of murder; over the next few days the mob would riot and eventually destroy the courthouse. 1886 – Geronimo, Apache warrior, surrenders to the U.S. Army, ending the main phase of the Apache Wars. 1899 – Emilio Aguinaldo leads Filipino forces for the only time during the Philippine–American War at the Battle of Marilao River. 1899 –Marconi sends radio signals cross the English Channel 1912 –First Japanese Cherry trees planted in Washington, DC 1914 –1st successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels 1915 – Typhoid Mary, the first healthy carrier of disease ever identified in the United States is put in quarantine for the second time, where she would remain for the rest of her life. 1918 – The National Council of Bessarabia proclaims union with the Kingdom of Romania. 1920 - Hermann Muller becomes German chancellor 1933 - Japan leaves League of Nations 1938 – Second Sino-Japanese War: The Battle of Taierzhuang begins, resulting several weeks later in the war's first major Chinese victory over Japan. 1941 – World War II: Yugoslav Air Force officers topple the pro-Axis government in a bloodless coup. 1941 - World War II: Adolf Hitler signs Directive 27 (assault on Yugoslavia) 1942 - World War II: Allies raid German submarine base in St Nazaire 1943 – World War II: Battle of the Komandorski Islands: In the Aleutian Islands the battle begins when United States Navy forces intercept Japanese attempting to reinforce a garrison at Kiska. 1943 - World War II: US begins assault on Fondouk Pass, Tunisia 1944 - World War II: 1,000 Jews leave Drancy, France, for Auschwitz concentration camp 1944 - World War II: 2,000 Jews are murdered in Kaunas Lithuania 1944 - World War II: 40 Jewish policemen in Riga, Latvia, ghetto are shot by the Gestapo 1945 – World War II: Operation Starvation, the aerial mining of Japan's ports and waterways begins. Argentina declares war on the Axis Powers. 1945 - World War II: US 20th Army corps captures Wiesbaden contration camp 1958 – Nikita Khrushchev becomes Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union. 1964 – The Good Friday earthquake, the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history at a magnitude of 9.2 strikes Southcentral Alaska, killing 125 people and inflicting massive damage to the city of Anchorage. 1975 – Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System begins. 1977 – Tenerife airport disaster: Two Boeing 747 airliners collide on a foggy runway on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, killing 583 (all 248 on KLM and 335 on Pan Am). Sixty-one survived on the Pan Am flight. This is the deadliest aviation accident in history. 1980 – The Norwegian oil platform Alexander L. Kielland collapses in the North Sea, killing 123 of its crew of 212. 1980 – Silver Thursday: A steep fall in silver prices, resulting from the Hunt Brothers attempting to corner the market in silver, leads to panic on commodity and futures exchanges. 1980 - Mount St Helens becomes active after 123 years 1981 – The Solidarity movement in Poland stages a warning strike, in which at least 12 million Poles walk off their jobs for four hours. 1986 – A car bomb explodes outside Russell Street Police HQ in Melbourne, Australia, killing one police officer and injuring 21 people. 1990 – The United States begins broadcasting anti-Castro propaganda to Cuba on TV Martí. 1993 – Jiang Zemin is appointed President of the People's Republic of China. 1993 – Italian former minister and Christian Democracy leader Giulio Andreotti is accused of mafia allegiance by the tribunal of Palermo. 1998 – The Food and Drug Administration approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, the first pill to be approved for this condition in the United States. 1999 – Kosovo War: An American Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk is shot down by a Yugoslav SAM, the first and only Nighthawk to be lost in combat. 2000 – A Phillips Petroleum plant explosion in Pasadena, Texas kills one person and injures 71 others. 2002 – Passover massacre: A Palestinian suicide bomber kills 29 people at a Passover seder in Netanya, Israel. 2002 – Nanterre massacre: In Nanterre, France, a gunman opens fire at the end of a town council meeting, resulting in the deaths of eight councilors; 19 other people are injured. 2004 – HMS Scylla, a decommissioned Leander-class frigate, is sunk as an artificial reef off Cornwall, the first of its kind in Europe. 2009 – The dam forming Situ Gintung, an artificial lake in Indonesia, fails, killing at least 99 people. 2014 – Philippines signs a peace accord with the largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, ending decades of conflict. 2014 - UN General Assembly condemns Russia's annexation of Crimea 2015 - Russia's Soyuz TMA-16M launches to deliver three crew members to the international space station to research the long-term effects of micro gravity 2015 – Al-Shabab militants attack and temporarily occupy a Mogadishu hotel leaving at least 20 people dead. 2016 – A suicide blast in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Lahore claims over 70 lives and leaves almost 300 others injured. The target of the bombing are Christians celebrating Easter. 2020 – North Macedonia becomes the 30th member of NATO. 2020 - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces he has contracted COVID-19 2020 - $2.2 trillion stimulus package, largest in US history, signed into law by President Donald Trump


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Published at 3:43am on Saturday, March 27, 2021

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