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Monday, December 27, 2021

News and Weather Briefing for Monday, December 27, 2021



Here is an index to assist you in moving from section to section within the article.

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Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
Local and StateNews
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
Science and Technology
On This Day
Support Macon Media


OUTLOOK

An upper level ridge over the eastern United States will contribute to temperatures being well above normal through the middle of the week, possibly breaking records at some locations. The next frontal system will reach the area by midweek, with high chances for rain especially from Wednesday into Thursday. Significantly cooler temperatures should arrive next Sunday behind a strong cold front.



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Local Weather

National Weather Map for Today



General forecast through Tuesday Night


Franklin Area Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Calm winds.

Tuesday

A 50 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

A chance of rain before 8pm, then showers likely between 8pm and 4am, then rain likely after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.

Wednesday

Rain before 11am, then showers after 11am. High in the upper 60s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain is 90%.

Highlands Area Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

A 50 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with highs near 60. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

A chance of rain before 8pm, then showers likely between 8pm and 3am, then rain likely after 3am. Cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.

Wednesday

Rain before 11am, then showers between 11am and 3pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Highs near 60. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Showers. Low in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 90%.

Otto Area Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 50s. Light winds out of the south.

Tuesday

Showers likely, mainly in the late afternoon. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid to upper 60s. Calm winds early in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

A chance of rain before 8pm, then showers likely between 8pm and 4am, then rain likely after 4am. Cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.

Wednesday

Rain before 11am, then showers between 11am and 4pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Showers. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain is 90%.

Nantahala Area Forecast

Today

A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

A slight chance of showers before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers after 11pm. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 50s. Winds out of the southwest 3 to 5 mph. Chance of rain is 20%.

Tuesday

Showers likely, mainly after 4pm. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s. Winds out of the southwest 3 to 7 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly between midnight and 4am, then rain after 4am. Lows in the midto-upper 50s. WInds out of the southwest around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 80%.

Wednesday

Rain before 9am, then showers after 9am. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain is 90%.

Wednesday Night

Showers. Lows in the mid 50s around 55. Chance of rain is 90%.


Hazardous Weather Outlook

Hazardous weather is not expected today.





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Hazards and Tropical Weather

Hazardous weather is not expected for today.



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Almanac




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

Fire and Smoke Map


Local Air Monitor



Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (2.5 out of 12) today with Juniper being the main culprit. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (1.5 out of 12).




Record Weather Events for December 27th

Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)

Highest Temperature 75°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2015 lowest Temperature 0°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1983 Greatest One-Day Rainfall 2.17 inches in Nantahala in 1973 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.4 inches in Highlands in 1997

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]

• Receive an ebook reader or tablet for Christmas? Here are some resources for free or cheap content [Macon Media]

Moonshine Heritage by Brady Brandwood



• Several trails closed as wildfire in Grandfather Ranger District grows to about 350 acres [WLOS-TV]

• Visiting Our Past: Buzzard pranks, Holy Ghost Doves and other bird lore [Asheville Citizen-Times]


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National and World News Roundup

• South African anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Tutu dies aged 90 [Reuters]

• Fairfax Police Officers Protected Sex Trafficking Ring [NBC 4 Washington]

• More than 30 reported killed, Save the Children staff missing, in Myanmar attack [CNN]

• Alex Jones declares Trump is either ignorant or evil in 'emergency Christmas message' [Raw Story]

• New York City bans natural gas in new buildings [Reuters]

"Face the Nation" correspondents roundtable



NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 26th, 2021



PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 26th, 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 7:05pm CET, 22 December 2021, there have been 275,233,892 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,364,996 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 20 December 2021, a total of 8,387,658,165 vaccine doses have been administered.
In United States of America, from 3 January 2020 to 7:05pm CET, 22 December 2021, there have been 50,565,638 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 799,942 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 17 December 2021, a total of 478,091,073 vaccine doses have been administered.

• The pandemic has caused nearly two years of collective trauma. Many people are near a breaking point. [Washington Post]

With new omicron variant, cases 'likely will go much higher': Dr. Fauci | ABC News



COVID-19 will be ‘ever present’ — even in a post-pandemic world, doctor says



Dr John Campbell: Gap between first symptoms and possible complications is only 9 to 10 days with omicron



• Monitoring COVID-19 Variants

[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

[Outbreak.info]

• CDC Releases Emergency Guidance for Healthcare Facilities to Prepare for Potential Omicron Surge [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

• COVID-19 case rates by county in 2021 [AXIOS]




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Science and Technology News Roundup

Live Stream: James Webb Space Telescope Launch



• James Webb Space Telescope Launch — Official NASA Broadcast [Youtube]

• Moscow court fines Google nearly $100 million for failing to delete 'illegal' content [France 24]

• Beatles documentary Get Back used custom AI to strip unwanted sound [New Scientist]

• Hyundai Motor Group Shuts Down Engine Development Center [Business Korea]

• TikTok ousts Google to become favourite online destination [BBC News]





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On This Day

December 27th is the 361st day of the year (362nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; four 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)




537 – The construction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is completed.

1512 – The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to native Indians in the New World.

1521 – The Zwickau prophets arrive in Wittenberg, disturbing the peace and preaching the Apocalypse.

• [Wikipedia: Zwickau prophets]
• [Wikipedia: Radical Reformation]
• [CHURCH HISTORY | Class #59: Zwickau Prophets and Luther's Sacralism]



1655 – Second Northern War/the Deluge: Monks at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa are successful in fending off a month-long siege.

1657 – The Flushing Remonstrance articulates for the first time in North American history that freedom of religion is a fundamental right.

1703 – Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which gives preference to Portuguese imported wines into England.

1814 – War of 1812: The American schooner USS Carolina is destroyed. It was the last of Commodore Daniel Patterson's makeshift fleet that fought a series of delaying actions that contributed to Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

• [Wikipedia: USS Carolina (1812)]
• [A Discussion on the USS Carolina and Crew]
• [Wikipedia: War of 1812]



1831 – Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate his theory of evolution.

1836 – The worst ever avalanche in England occurs at Lewes, Sussex, killing eight people.

1845 – Ether anesthetic is used for childbirth for the first time by Dr. Crawford Long in Jefferson, Georgia.

1845 – Journalist John L. O'Sullivan, writing in his newspaper the New York Morning News, argues that the USA had the right to claim the entire Oregon Country "by the right of our manifest destiny".

• [Wikipedia: Manifest destiny]
• [VIDEO: Manifest Destiny Explained]
• [HistoryPod]
• [Wikipedia Bio: John L. O'Sullivan]



1911 – "Jana Gana Mana", the national anthem of India, is first sung in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.

1918 – The Great Poland Uprising against the Germans begins.

1918 – Ukrainian War of Independence: The Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine occupies Yekaterinoslav and seizes 7 airplanes from the UPRAF, establishing an Insurgent Air Fleet.

1922 – Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō becomes the first purpose built aircraft carrier to be commissioned in the world.

1927 – Kern and Hammerstein's musical play Show Boat, considered to be the first true American musical play, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway.

1929 – Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin orders the "liquidation of the kulaks as a class".

1932 – Radio City Music Hall, "Showplace of the Nation", opens in New York City.

1935 – Regina Jonas is ordained as the first female rabbi in the history of Judaism.

1939 – The 7.8 Mw  Erzincan earthquake shakes eastern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). At least 32,700 people were killed.

1939 – Winter War: Finland holds off a Soviet attack in the Battle of Kelja.

• [Wikipedia: Battle of Kelja]
• [Wikipedia: Winter War]
• [Winter War - Soviet Finnish 1939-1940 War - FULL 3d DOCUMENTARY]



1945 – The International Monetary Fund is created with the signing of an agreement by 29 nations.

1949 – Indonesian National Revolution: The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence. End of the Dutch East Indies.

1966 – The Cave of Swallows, the largest known cave shaft in the world, is discovered in Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

1968 – Apollo program: Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the first orbital manned mission to the Moon.

• [Apollo 8 Splashdown - Jim Lovell]
• [CBS News - Apollo 8 - recovery - 1 of 2]
• [CBS News - Apollo 8 - recovery - 2 of 2]
• [Apollo 8 - Splashdown (Full Mission 42)]



1978 – Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of fascist dictatorship.

1983 – Pope John Paul II visits Mehmet Ali Ağca in Rebibbia's prison and personally forgives him for the 1981 attack on him in St. Peter's Square.

1985 – Palestinian guerrillas kill eighteen people inside the airports of Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria.

1989 – The Romanian Revolution concludes, as the last minor street confrontations and stray shootings abruptly end in the country's capital, Bucharest.

1996 – Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram Airfield which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul, Afghanistan.

1997 – Protestant paramilitary leader Billy Wright is assassinated in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

2002 – Two truck bombs kill 72 and wound 200 at the pro-Moscow headquarters of the Chechen government in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia.

2004 – Radiation from an explosion on the magnetar SGR 1806-20 reaches Earth. It is the brightest extrasolar event known to have been witnessed on the planet.

2007 – Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in a shooting incident.

2007 – Riots erupt in Mombasa, Kenya, after Mwai Kibaki is declared the winner of the presidential election, triggering a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis.

2008 – Operation Cast Lead: Israel launches 3-week operation on Gaza.

• [Operation cast Lead]
• [The beginning of the ground offensive - Operation Cast Lead]
• [Wikipedia: Gaza War (2008–2009)]



2009 – Iranian election protests: On the Day of Ashura in Tehran, Iran, government security forces fire upon demonstrators.

2019 – Bek Air Flight 2100 crashes during takeoff from Almaty International Airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan, killing 13.







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Published at 5:00am on Monday, December 27, 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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