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Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
Local and StateNews
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
Science and Technology
On This Day
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OUTLOOK
A Gulf low pressure system moves northeast across Florida this afternoon, tracking off the Carolina Coast this evening. This system will bring increased rain chances mainly along and south of I-85 today into tonight. Relatively quiet weather is still expected the rest of the week. Temperatures will gradually warm late this week, becoming well above normal by Christmas weekend.
Winter Officially Begins at 10:59 am Today
Today marks the official start of winter as the winter solstice will occur at 10:59am this morning, the day will be the shortest of the year, and the night the longest.
The earth rotates on a tilted axis. When this axis leans towards the sun, it’s summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the south. This is reversed as the earth continues on its orbit until the axis becomes tilted away from the sun.
During the solstice, the earth’s axis is tilted at its furthest point from the sun. This means that, for us in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. It’s also the shortest day of the year - and the longest night.
What is a Solstice? | National Geographic
• Winter Solstice 2021: When It Is and How It Is Observed [Wall Street Journal]
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Local Weather
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Thursday Night
Franklin area
Today
A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Cloudy, with highs near 50. Calm winds.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Calm winds in the early evening increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
Wednesday
Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 6 mph.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with lows in the mid 20s. Calm winds.
Thursday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 50s.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with lows around 30.
Highlands Plateau
Today
A 20 percent chance of rain after 2pm. Cloudy, with highs in the low-to-mid 40s. WInds out of the north around 5 mph becoming calm by midmorning.
Tonight
Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the north 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s. WInds out of the northwest 3 to 7 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 40s.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with lows around freezing.
Otto area
Today
A 20 percent chance of rain after 3pm. Cloudy, with highs near 50. Calm winds.
Tonight
Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 8 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with lows in the mid 20s. WInds out of the north around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Thursday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 50s.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with lows around 30.
Nantahala area
Today
Cloudy, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. Light and variable winds.
Tonight
Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with lows around freezing. Calm winds becoming northwest around 6 mph after midnight.
Wednesday
Sunny, with highs in the mid 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm by midnight.
Thursday
Sunny, with highs in the lower 50s.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid 30s.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
...Areas of Dense Fog This Morning...
Hazardous weather is not expected today.
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Almanac
Air Quality
Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the upper range of green.
Fire and Smoke Map
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.7 out of 12) today with a mixed trace of sources being the main culprit. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.6 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for December 21st
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 71°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1978
lowest Temperature -5°F in Highlands in 1901
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.186 inches in Highlands in 1918
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin in 1876
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)
Experiencing Nature Through Expanded Senses
"Friends of the Greenway is hosting an indoor "Experiencing Nature Through Expanded Senses" with leader, Diane Wildermuth. Sessions will be held at FROG Quarters on December 15 at 10:30 AM or 12:30 PM. Contact Diane at 421-5539 or dswnatureguide@outlook.com for additional information or to register."
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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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• North Carolina police kill suspect while he stabs teen stepdaughter [Fox News Channel]
• Walton War: The North Carolina-Georgia border clash that's maybe, not quite, totally over [Asheville Citizen-Timesa>]
• Sylva woman restores flood-damaged family photos [WLOS-TV]
• President's Column: The Most Important Gifts Aren’t Wrapped Up in Boxes, They’re Held in the Heart [Macon Media]
• NC Supreme Court says new trial is in order for man accused of threatening DA [WLOS-TV]
• NC Supreme Court Ruling [2021-NCSC-164 (PDF)]
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National and World News Roundup
• Sen. Joe Manchin says he won't support Biden's Build Back Better social spending bill [USA Today]
Bushcraft Bear: La Palma Volcano Report for December 20th, 2021
Back on the hill. The volcano is calm. What's new? Report on the volcanic eruption on La Palma.
• The Battle for Taiwan [Reuters Special Report]
Taiwan’s Army Conducts Live-Fire Drill to Test Combat Readiness
Taiwan vs. China - The rocky road to democracy | DW Documentary
• Why China won't invade Taiwan and Russia won't attack Ukraine [The Hill]
• Russia Cuts Gas Supplies to Europe as Temperatures Drop [The Moscow Times]
• Abducted Haiti missionaries describe daring escape [BBC News]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 20th, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 20th, 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]
• WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard [World Health Organization]
Globally, as of 5:51pm CET, 16 December 2021, there have been 271,376,643 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,324,969 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 16 December 2021, a total of 8,337,664,456 vaccine doses have been administered.
In United States of America, from 3 January 2020 to 5:51pm CET, 16 December 2021, there have been 49,833,416 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 792,371 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 10 December 2021, a total of 465,812,616 vaccine doses have been administered.
• U.S. military has granted 0 religious exemptions for COVID vaccines [WTRF-TV]
• Rapid deployment of COVID-19 vaccines saved the US $438B, study says [Heartland Forward]
• 40+ organizations sign petition urging permanent COVID-19 OSHA standards [Becker's Hospital Review]
Dr John Campbell: US omicron surge now
• Tennessee 4th in nation in COVID-19 death rate, unvaccinated 99% of new cases per data [FOX 17 Nashville]
• Challenges mount at high court over OSHA vaccine-or-test mandate [Courthouse News Service]
'You’re playing right into their hands' when you doubt the vaccine, President Trump says. pic.twitter.com/xJc7JTL0cR
— No Spin News (@NoSpinNews) December 20, 2021
• Impact of Changes in Infection Control Measures on the Dynamics of COVID-19 Infections in Schools and Pre-schools [Frontiers in Public Health]
• Modeling COVID-19 Mortality Across 44 Countries: Face Covering May Reduce Deaths [American Journal of Preventive Medicine]
• The riddle of Japan's dramatic drop in COVID numbers [NPR]
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Science and Technology News Roundup
Level1 News December 21 2021: Toss Another Log4J On The Security Fire
• The story of the fight to archive the internet [TechRadarE]
• Bitcoin’s ‘One Percent’ Controls Lion’s Share of the Cryptocurrency’s Wealth [Wall Street Journal]
• The Technology Industry’s Year of Escapism [Bloomberg]
• NASA’s Next-Generation Asteroid Impact Monitoring System Goes Online [NASA]
• U.S. to add more Chinese firms to investment, export blacklists [Reuters]
• title [SOURCE]
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On This Day
December 21st is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 10 days remain until the end of the year.
In the Northern Hemisphere, December 21 is often the shortest day of the year and is sometimes regarded as the first day of winter.
In the Southern Hemisphere, December 21 is often the longest day of the year and occurs during the southern summer.
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
AD 69 – The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors.
• [Wikipedia: Year of the Four Emperors]
• [Wikipedia: Vespasian]
• [AUDIO: The Year of the Four Emperors]
• [Vespasian: From Mule Breeder To Roman Emperor | Imperium: The Path To Power | Timeline]
1124 – Pope Honorius II is consecrated, having been elected after the controversial dethroning of Pope Celestine II.
1140 – Conrad III of Germany besieges Weinsberg.
1237 – The city of Ryazan is sacked by the Mongol army of Batu Khan.
1361 – The Battle of Linuesa is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén resulting in a Castilian victory.
1598 – Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile.
1620 – Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• [Wikipedia: Plymouth Rock]
• [The Mayflower: The Puritan Voyage Of The Pilgrim Fathers | Journey Into The Unknown | Parable]
• [Wikipedia: Plymouth Colony]
1826 – American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexican Texas, declare their independence, starting the Fredonian Rebellion.
1832 – Egyptian–Ottoman War: Egyptian forces decisively defeat Ottoman troops at the Battle of Konya.
1844 – The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers commences business at its cooperative in Rochdale, England, starting the Cooperative movement.
1861 – Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
1872 – Challenger expedition: HMS Challenger, commanded by Captain George Nares, sails from Portsmouth, England.
• [Wikipedia: Challenger expedition]
• [VIDEO: The Pioneering Voyage of the HMS Challenger]
• [Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: The Challenger expedition]
1879 – World premiere of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1883 – The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, are formed.
1907 – The Chilean Army commits a massacre of at least 2,000 striking saltpeter miners in Iquique, Chile.
1910 – An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners.
1913 – Arthur Wynne's "word-cross", the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World.
1919 – American anarchist Emma Goldman is deported to Russia.
1923 – United Kingdom and Nepal formally sign an agreement of friendship, called the Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923, which superseded the Treaty of Sugauli signed in 1816.
1936 – First flight of the Junkers Ju 88 multi-role combat aircraft.
1937 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world's first full-length animated feature, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre.
1941 – World War II: A Thai-Japanese Pact of Alliance is signed.
1946 – An 8.1 Mw earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Nankaidō, Japan, kills over 1,300 people and destroys over 38,000 homes.
1963 – "Bloody Christmas" begins in Cyprus, ultimately resulting in the displacement of 25,000–30,000 Turkish Cypriots and destruction of more than 100 villages.
1965 – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is adopted.
1967 – Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a human-to-human heart transplant, dies in Cape Town, South Africa, having lived for 18 days after the transplant.
1968 – Apollo program: Apollo 8 is launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans.
• [VIDEO: Apollo 8 Launch]
• [Wikipedia: Apollo 8]
• [NASA: Apollo 8/]
1970 – First flight of F-14 multi-role combat aircraft.
1973 – The Geneva Conference on the Arab–Israeli conflict opens.
1979 – Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London by Lord Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara.
1988 – A bomb explodes on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, killing 270. This is to date the deadliest air disaster to occur on British soil.
• [Wikipedia: Pan Am Flight 103]
• [Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives]
• [[VIDEO] The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story]
• [VIDEO ARCHIVE: Lockerbie Bombing 1988 - BBC Newsnight]
• [WSTM Channel 3 News - Pan Am Flight 103 - 12/21/88 - Syracuse NY]
• [Lockerbie | Largest Crime Scene In The World | FULL EPISODE | Mayday: Air Disaster]
1988 – The first flight of Antonov An-225 Mriya, the largest aircraft in the world.
1992 – A Dutch DC-10, flight Martinair MP 495, crashes at Faro Airport, killing 56.
1995 – The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control.
1999 – The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts a van loaded with 950 kg of explosives that ETA intended to use to blow up Torre Picasso in Madrid, Spain.
1999 – Cubana de Aviación Flight 1216 overshoots the runway at La Aurora International Airport, killing 18.
2004 – Iraq War: A suicide bomber kills 22 at the forward operating base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, the single deadliest suicide attack on American soldiers.
2020 – A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This is the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623.
• [LIVE VIDEO from Guardian News]
• [Photos at EarthSky]
• [Macon Media]
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Published at 4:00am on Tuesday, December 21, 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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