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Local News
Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
Science and Technology
On This Day
Support Macon Media
OUTLOOK
Dry high pressure will build into the forecast area this afternoon and lingers through Thursday. A weak, yet moist, warm front crosses the region Thursday night into Friday, before an active cold front arrives from the west on Saturday. Dry high pressure returns Sunday and remains in control of the weather through the middle of next week.
**Weather Alert**
A cold front will cross the North Carolina mountains today and increase winds from the southwest. Expect wind gusting in the range of 35 to 45 miles per hour above 4000 feet through the early afternoon. Unsecured objects may be blown around and a few small or dead trees could also be knocked down. This will also make outdoor burning a very hazardous undertaking. This front will also bring a chance of thunderstorms with cloud to ground lighting being the main threat. ...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT...
The state of North Carolina has issued a state-wide burn ban.
[Press Release]
Town of Franklin Declares a Fire Danger Emergency
Town of Franklin Declares a Fire Danger Emergency
[Press Release]
---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------
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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• Filing Opens for the 2022 Elections [Macon Media]
• Franklin Town Council - December 2021 Regular Meeting [Macon Media]
• Flags Lowered to Half-Staff to Honor Bob Dole [Macon Media]
• Flags Lowered to Half-Staff for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2021 [Macon Media]
• Brasstown Ringers to Perform Christmas Concert Series [Macon Media]
• Cooper vetoes election bill that would end grace period for NC’s mail-in ballots [News and Observer/a>]
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Local Weather
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Friday Night
Franklin area
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog and cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs in the mid 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 30. WInds out of the northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Calm winds.
Friday
Showers likely, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with highs in the mid 60s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers likely. Cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Highlands Plateau
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs in the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph becoming light northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Light winds out of the south.
Friday
Showers likely. Cloudy, with highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.
Otto area
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs in the mid 50s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 30. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Friday
Showers likely, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers. Low in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.
Nantahala area
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs near 50. Light winds out of the northwest ealry increasing to 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Increasing clouds, with highs in the lower 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday
Showers likely. Cloudy, with highs near 60. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
A cold front will cross the North Carolina mountains today and increase winds from the southwest. Expect wind gusting in the range of 35 to 45 miles per hour above 4000 feet through the early afternoon. Unsecured objects may be blown around and a few small or dead trees could also be knocked down. This will also make outdoor burning a very hazardous undertaking. This front will also bring a chance of thunderstorms with cloud to ground lighting being the main threat.
...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...
The state of North Carolina has issued a state wide burn ban due to the very dry conditions and exceptionally dry fuels. This burn ban is expected to remain in place until significant rain occurs.
Outdoor burning is prohibited. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities for further information. [Press Release]
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Almanac
Air Quality
Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the extreme upper range of green.
Fire and Smoke Map
Local Air Monitor
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.3 out of 12) today with Ragweed and various Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (1.3 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for December 8th
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 76°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1956
lowest Temperature 7°F in Franklin in 2006
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.46 inches in Highlands in 1924
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Highlands in 1963
Record weather events for December in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin on Dec 31, 1951
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands on Dec 30, 1917
Greatest Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands on Dec 14, 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin on Dec 21, 1876
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot. For tickets, see [GSMR.com]
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Adapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music on Front Street. For more information, see [Visit Dillsboro]
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National and World News Roundup
Maternal Health Call to Action Summit
• White House holds maternal health summit [American Hospital Association]
Bushcraft Bear: La Palma Volcano Report for December 7th, 2021
Washington Today (12-7-21): Biden warns Putin not to invade Ukraine (audio)
• Biden, Putin square off as tension grows on Ukraine border [AP News]
• Fourth Circuit upholds former coal company CEO’s conviction for mine safety violations [Courthouse News Service]
• Here’s Why You Aren’t Allowed to Watch the Ghislaine Maxwell Trial [Foundation for Economic Freedom]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 7th, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 7th, 2021
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COVID-19 News and Updates
Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 18, 2021]
• UF researchers felt pressure to destroy COVID-19 data, not criticize DeSantis, report says [Miami Herald]
• Medicago and GSK announce positive Phase 3 efficacy and safety results for adjuvanted plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate [gsk (Press Release)]
• Time of Day of Vaccination Affects SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses in an Observational Study of Health Care Workers [SAGE Journals]
• Rise in Blood Pressure Observed Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Circulation]
• Omicron variant 'almost certainly' not more severe than Delta, Fauci tells AFP [France 24]
• The U.S. surgeon general warns of a mental health crisis among young people, worsened by the pandemic. [New York Times]
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Science and Technology News Roundup
Level1 News December 8 2021: Affluent Trash Vehicle
• How SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond [Rechnology Review]
• Report: Apple CEO Tim Cook engineered a secret $275 billion deal with China [Ars Technica]
• Craig Wright wins dispute over $50 billion in bitcoin, but identity of bitcoin’s founder still unproven [Market Watch]
How Electricity Gets to You
• Watch roots from different plants compete for prime real estate underground [Science]
Peter Woit: Theories of Everything & Why String Theory is Not Even Wrong | Lex Fridman Podcast #246
• Over 200 Newspapers Are Suing Facebook and Google for Decimating Their Advertising [Gismodo]
Meet The Man Who Shoots At Birds All Day To Keep Them Off A Toxic Pit | World Wide Waste
• Check out the science heading to ISS on next SpaceX Crew Dragon flight [Digital Trends]
• Gmail App Now Lets You Start Meetings And Audio Calls [ubergizmo]
• Cordkillers 387 - VCR and Chill [Cordkillers]
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On This Day
December 8th is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 23 days remain until the end of the year.
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
395 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope.
757 – Du Fu returns to Chang'an as a member of Emperor Xuanzong's court, after having escaped the city during the An Lushan Rebellion.
877 – Louis the Stammerer (son of Charles the Bald) is crowned king of the West Frankish Kingdom at Compiègne.
1432 – The first battle between the forces of Švitrigaila and Sigismund Kęstutaitis is fought near the town of Oszmiana (Ashmyany), launching the most active phase of the Lithuanian Civil War.
1504 – Ahmad ibn Abi Jum'ah writes his Oran fatwa, arguing for the relaxation of Islamic law requirements for the forcibly converted Muslims in Spain.
1660 – A woman (either Margaret Hughes or Anne Marshall) appears on an English public stage for the first time, in the role of Desdemona in a production of Shakespeare's play Othello.
1851 – Conservative Santiago-based government troops defeat rebels at the Battle of Loncomilla, signaling the end of the 1851 Chilean Revolution.
1854 – In his Apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX proclaims the dogmatic definition of Immaculate Conception, which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived free of Original Sin.
1864 – Pope Pius IX promulgates the encyclical Quanta cura and its appendix, the Syllabus of Errors, outlining the authority of the Catholic Church and condemning various liberal ideas.
1907 – King Gustaf V of Sweden accedes to the Swedish throne.
1912 – Leaders of the German Empire hold an Imperial War Council to discuss the possibility that war might break out.
1914 – World War I: A squadron of Britain's Royal Navy defeats the Imperial German East Asia Squadron in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
1941 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares December 7 to be "a date which will live in infamy", after which the U.S. declares war on Japan.
1941 – World War II: Japanese forces simultaneously invade Shanghai International Settlement, Malaya, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the Dutch East Indies. (See December 7 for the concurrent attack on Pearl Harbor in the Western Hemisphere.)
1943 – World War II: The German 117th Jäger Division destroys the monastery of Mega Spilaio in Greece and executes 22 monks and visitors as part of reprisals that culminated a few days later with the Massacre of Kalavryta.
1953 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his "Atoms for Peace" speech, which leads to an American program to supply equipment and information on nuclear power to schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world.
1955 – The Flag of Europe is adopted by Council of Europe.
1962 – Workers at four New York City newspapers (this later increases to nine) go on strike for 114 days.
1963 – Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707, is struck by lightning and crashes near Elkton, Maryland, killing all 81 people on board.
1966 – The Greek ship SS Heraklion sinks in a storm in the Aegean Sea, killing over 200.
1969 – Olympic Airways Flight 954 strikes a mountain outside of Keratea, Greece, killing 90 people in the worst crash of a Douglas DC-6 in history.
1971 – Indo-Pakistani War: The Indian Navy launches an attack on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi.
1972 – United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737, crashes after aborting its landing attempt at Chicago Midway International Airport, killing 45. This is the first-ever loss of a Boeing 737.
1974 – A plebiscite results in the abolition of monarchy in Greece.
1980 – John Lennon is murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota in New York City.
1985 – The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia, is established.
1987 – Cold War: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the White House.
1987 – An Israeli army tank transporter kills four Palestinian refugees and injures seven others during a traffic accident at the Erez Crossing on the Israel–Gaza Strip border, which has been cited as one of the events which sparked the First Intifada.
1988 – A United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II crashes into an apartment complex in Remscheid, Germany, killing 5 people and injuring 50 others.
1990 – The Galileo spacecraft flies past Earth for the first time.
1991 – The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine sign an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States.
1992 – The Galileo spacecraft flies past Earth for the second time.
1998 – Eighty-one people are killed by armed groups in Algeria.
2004 – The Cusco Declaration is signed in Cusco, Peru, establishing the South American Community of Nations.
2004 – Columbus nightclub shooting: Nathan Gale opens fire at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, killing former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and 3 others before being shot dead by a police officer.[3]
2009 – Bombings in Baghdad, Iraq, kill 127 people and injure 448 others.
2010 – With the second launch of the Falcon 9 and the first launch of the Dragon, SpaceX becomes the first private company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft.
2010 – The Japanese solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS passes the planet Venus at a distance of about 80,800 km.
2013 – Riots break out in Singapore after a fatal accident in Little India.
2013 – Metallica performs a show in Antarctica, making them the first band to perform on all seven continents.
2019 – First confirmed case of COVID-19 in China
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Published at 5:00am on Wednesday, December 08, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
Resources used to compile the information in this article include, but are not limited to the following websites or books: MaconMedia.com, youtube.com, weather.gov, airnow.gov, wikipedia.com, onthisday.com, ncdcr.gov, ncsu.edu, utah.edu, https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/, wolfram.com, biorxiv.org, aps.org, nejm.org, plos.org, cell.com, researchsquare.com, cureus.com, spc.noaa.gov, nhc.noaa.gov, ncdenr.org, medrxiv.org, archive.org, ncpedia.org, nasa.gov, https://ww2days.com, nih.gov, carolinapublicpress.org, microbe.tv, smokymountainnews.com, psypost.org, blogspot.com, pollen.com, franklinnc.com, maconnc.org, spaceweather.com, solarham.com, loc.gov, ncleg.net, senate.gov, house.gov, whitehouse.gov, drudgereport.com, politico.com, realclearpolitics.com, ushmm.org, This Day in North Carolina History, World War II Day By Day, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, The Timetables of History, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The World History and Book of Facts (multiple years), On This Day In History: Over 4,000 facts, The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space, This Day in North Carolina History, The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: From the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future, Spaceflight, 2nd Edition: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity, The Story of Civilization (11 volumes), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877, American History, Volume 2: 1877 - Present, A Complete Chronolgy of the Second World War. Weather and Almanac data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences, and the Weather Prediction Center. Back to Top
---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------
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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• Filing Opens for the 2022 Elections [Macon Media]
• Franklin Town Council - December 2021 Regular Meeting [Macon Media]
• Flags Lowered to Half-Staff to Honor Bob Dole [Macon Media]
• Flags Lowered to Half-Staff for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2021 [Macon Media]
• Brasstown Ringers to Perform Christmas Concert Series [Macon Media]
• Cooper vetoes election bill that would end grace period for NC’s mail-in ballots [News and Observer/a>]
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Local Weather
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Friday Night
Franklin area
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog and cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs in the mid 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 30. WInds out of the northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Calm winds.
Friday
Showers likely, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with highs in the mid 60s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers likely. Cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Highlands Plateau
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs in the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph becoming light northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Light winds out of the south.
Friday
Showers likely. Cloudy, with highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.
Otto area
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs in the mid 50s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 30. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Friday
Showers likely, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers. Low in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.
Nantahala area
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs near 50. Light winds out of the northwest ealry increasing to 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Increasing clouds, with highs in the lower 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday
Showers likely. Cloudy, with highs near 60. Chance of rain is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 80%.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
A cold front will cross the North Carolina mountains today and increase winds from the southwest. Expect wind gusting in the range of 35 to 45 miles per hour above 4000 feet through the early afternoon. Unsecured objects may be blown around and a few small or dead trees could also be knocked down. This will also make outdoor burning a very hazardous undertaking. This front will also bring a chance of thunderstorms with cloud to ground lighting being the main threat.
...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...
The state of North Carolina has issued a state wide burn ban due to the very dry conditions and exceptionally dry fuels. This burn ban is expected to remain in place until significant rain occurs.
Outdoor burning is prohibited. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities for further information. [Press Release]
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Almanac
Air Quality
Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the extreme upper range of green.
Fire and Smoke Map
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.3 out of 12) today with Ragweed and various Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (1.3 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for December 8th
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 76°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1956
lowest Temperature 7°F in Franklin in 2006
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.46 inches in Highlands in 1924
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Highlands in 1963
Record weather events for December in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin on Dec 31, 1951
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands on Dec 30, 1917
Greatest Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands on Dec 14, 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin on Dec 21, 1876
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot. For tickets, see [GSMR.com]
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Adapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music on Front Street. For more information, see [Visit Dillsboro]
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National and World News Roundup
Maternal Health Call to Action Summit
• White House holds maternal health summit [American Hospital Association]
Bushcraft Bear: La Palma Volcano Report for December 7th, 2021
Washington Today (12-7-21): Biden warns Putin not to invade Ukraine (audio)
• Biden, Putin square off as tension grows on Ukraine border [AP News]
• Fourth Circuit upholds former coal company CEO’s conviction for mine safety violations [Courthouse News Service]
• Here’s Why You Aren’t Allowed to Watch the Ghislaine Maxwell Trial [Foundation for Economic Freedom]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 7th, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 7th, 2021
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COVID-19 News and Updates
Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 18, 2021]
• UF researchers felt pressure to destroy COVID-19 data, not criticize DeSantis, report says [Miami Herald]
• Medicago and GSK announce positive Phase 3 efficacy and safety results for adjuvanted plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate [gsk (Press Release)]
• Time of Day of Vaccination Affects SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses in an Observational Study of Health Care Workers [SAGE Journals]
• Rise in Blood Pressure Observed Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Circulation]
• Omicron variant 'almost certainly' not more severe than Delta, Fauci tells AFP [France 24]
• The U.S. surgeon general warns of a mental health crisis among young people, worsened by the pandemic. [New York Times]
Back to Top
Science and Technology News Roundup
Level1 News December 8 2021: Affluent Trash Vehicle
• How SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond [Rechnology Review]
• Report: Apple CEO Tim Cook engineered a secret $275 billion deal with China [Ars Technica]
• Craig Wright wins dispute over $50 billion in bitcoin, but identity of bitcoin’s founder still unproven [Market Watch]
How Electricity Gets to You
• Watch roots from different plants compete for prime real estate underground [Science]
Peter Woit: Theories of Everything & Why String Theory is Not Even Wrong | Lex Fridman Podcast #246
• Over 200 Newspapers Are Suing Facebook and Google for Decimating Their Advertising [Gismodo]
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On This Day
December 8th is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 23 days remain until the end of the year.
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
395 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope.
757 – Du Fu returns to Chang'an as a member of Emperor Xuanzong's court, after having escaped the city during the An Lushan Rebellion.
877 – Louis the Stammerer (son of Charles the Bald) is crowned king of the West Frankish Kingdom at Compiègne.
1432 – The first battle between the forces of Švitrigaila and Sigismund Kęstutaitis is fought near the town of Oszmiana (Ashmyany), launching the most active phase of the Lithuanian Civil War.
1504 – Ahmad ibn Abi Jum'ah writes his Oran fatwa, arguing for the relaxation of Islamic law requirements for the forcibly converted Muslims in Spain.
1660 – A woman (either Margaret Hughes or Anne Marshall) appears on an English public stage for the first time, in the role of Desdemona in a production of Shakespeare's play Othello.
1851 – Conservative Santiago-based government troops defeat rebels at the Battle of Loncomilla, signaling the end of the 1851 Chilean Revolution.
1854 – In his Apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX proclaims the dogmatic definition of Immaculate Conception, which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived free of Original Sin.
1864 – Pope Pius IX promulgates the encyclical Quanta cura and its appendix, the Syllabus of Errors, outlining the authority of the Catholic Church and condemning various liberal ideas.
1907 – King Gustaf V of Sweden accedes to the Swedish throne.
1912 – Leaders of the German Empire hold an Imperial War Council to discuss the possibility that war might break out.
1914 – World War I: A squadron of Britain's Royal Navy defeats the Imperial German East Asia Squadron in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
1941 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares December 7 to be "a date which will live in infamy", after which the U.S. declares war on Japan.
1941 – World War II: Japanese forces simultaneously invade Shanghai International Settlement, Malaya, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the Dutch East Indies. (See December 7 for the concurrent attack on Pearl Harbor in the Western Hemisphere.)
1943 – World War II: The German 117th Jäger Division destroys the monastery of Mega Spilaio in Greece and executes 22 monks and visitors as part of reprisals that culminated a few days later with the Massacre of Kalavryta.
1953 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his "Atoms for Peace" speech, which leads to an American program to supply equipment and information on nuclear power to schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world.
1955 – The Flag of Europe is adopted by Council of Europe.
1962 – Workers at four New York City newspapers (this later increases to nine) go on strike for 114 days.
1963 – Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707, is struck by lightning and crashes near Elkton, Maryland, killing all 81 people on board.
1966 – The Greek ship SS Heraklion sinks in a storm in the Aegean Sea, killing over 200.
1969 – Olympic Airways Flight 954 strikes a mountain outside of Keratea, Greece, killing 90 people in the worst crash of a Douglas DC-6 in history.
1971 – Indo-Pakistani War: The Indian Navy launches an attack on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi.
1972 – United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737, crashes after aborting its landing attempt at Chicago Midway International Airport, killing 45. This is the first-ever loss of a Boeing 737.
1974 – A plebiscite results in the abolition of monarchy in Greece.
1980 – John Lennon is murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota in New York City.
1985 – The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia, is established.
1987 – Cold War: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the White House.
1987 – An Israeli army tank transporter kills four Palestinian refugees and injures seven others during a traffic accident at the Erez Crossing on the Israel–Gaza Strip border, which has been cited as one of the events which sparked the First Intifada.
1988 – A United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II crashes into an apartment complex in Remscheid, Germany, killing 5 people and injuring 50 others.
1990 – The Galileo spacecraft flies past Earth for the first time.
1991 – The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine sign an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States.
1992 – The Galileo spacecraft flies past Earth for the second time.
1998 – Eighty-one people are killed by armed groups in Algeria.
2004 – The Cusco Declaration is signed in Cusco, Peru, establishing the South American Community of Nations.
2004 – Columbus nightclub shooting: Nathan Gale opens fire at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, killing former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and 3 others before being shot dead by a police officer.[3]
2009 – Bombings in Baghdad, Iraq, kill 127 people and injure 448 others.
2010 – With the second launch of the Falcon 9 and the first launch of the Dragon, SpaceX becomes the first private company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft.
2010 – The Japanese solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS passes the planet Venus at a distance of about 80,800 km.
2013 – Riots break out in Singapore after a fatal accident in Little India.
2013 – Metallica performs a show in Antarctica, making them the first band to perform on all seven continents.
2019 – First confirmed case of COVID-19 in China
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Published at 5:00am on Wednesday, December 08, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
Resources used to compile the information in this article include, but are not limited to the following websites or books: MaconMedia.com, youtube.com, weather.gov, airnow.gov, wikipedia.com, onthisday.com, ncdcr.gov, ncsu.edu, utah.edu, https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/, wolfram.com, biorxiv.org, aps.org, nejm.org, plos.org, cell.com, researchsquare.com, cureus.com, spc.noaa.gov, nhc.noaa.gov, ncdenr.org, medrxiv.org, archive.org, ncpedia.org, nasa.gov, https://ww2days.com, nih.gov, carolinapublicpress.org, microbe.tv, smokymountainnews.com, psypost.org, blogspot.com, pollen.com, franklinnc.com, maconnc.org, spaceweather.com, solarham.com, loc.gov, ncleg.net, senate.gov, house.gov, whitehouse.gov, drudgereport.com, politico.com, realclearpolitics.com, ushmm.org, This Day in North Carolina History, World War II Day By Day, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, The Timetables of History, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The World History and Book of Facts (multiple years), On This Day In History: Over 4,000 facts, The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space, This Day in North Carolina History, The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: From the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future, Spaceflight, 2nd Edition: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity, The Story of Civilization (11 volumes), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877, American History, Volume 2: 1877 - Present, A Complete Chronolgy of the Second World War. Weather and Almanac data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences, and the Weather Prediction Center. Back to Top
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