• ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...
• [Public Safety Notifications]
• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]
NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK
The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the entire area thru 7 AM Sunday. An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect for the entire area, starting at 1 PM Saturday over the NC mountains and running thru 1 PM Sunday, and starting at 7 PM Saturday elsewhere and running thru 10 AM Sunday.
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through 7 AM Sunday as a significant winter storm will bring heavy snow to the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Cold temperatures during the event will lead to significant travel impacts across most of the region.
2. Gusty winds combined with very cold temperatures will lead to dangerously cold wind chills today through Monday. The bitterly cold wind chill could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.
3. Temperatures gradually warm through early next week with dry conditions returning across the region. Precipitation chances return by mid week.
WEATHER SPONSOR
Macon Media Weather is being sponsored by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook.
It is time for new leadership in the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. I have the education and experience to successfully lead and represent the Office into the future. I will listen and respond to concerns of every citizen. I will ensure the employees have equal opportunities for promotion and transfer. Please trust me with your vote. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 828-371-4475, Facebook: Bob Cook for Sheriff. Early voting begins February 12, 2026, and the primary is March 3, 2026.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook Sheriff.
STORM SPONSOR
Young Tree Service is sponsoring Macon Media for the duration of this storm.
They offer 24 hr emergency service and Danger Tree removal.
They provide complete tree care, are licensed and insured. Specializing in low ground impact. Crane Service, Pruning, Views. Call 828-421-0967 for more information.
DAY SPONSOR
This space available
GENERAL FORECAST
(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)
..TODAY....Cloudy. Areas of fog this morning. Snow, mainly this morning. Snow may be heavy at times this morning. Snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches. Colder with highs in the lower 20s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph, increasing to 40 mph this afternoon. Chance of snow 90 percent. Wind chill values as low as 6 below this afternoon.
..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Patchy blowing snow. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times. Blustery, cold with lows around 4 above. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Wind chill values as low as 16 below.
..SUNDAY....Sunny, blustery with highs in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Wind chill values as low as 15 below in the morning.
..SUNDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Cold with lows around 9 above. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. Wind chill values as low as zero.
..MONDAY....Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
..MONDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Cold with lows in the lower 20s.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Temperatures will remain very cold through early next week. A strong arctic front may bring the coldest weather of the season this weekend. Temperatures across portions of the area are likely to remain below freezing until at least Monday afternoon. As this period of unusually cold weather continues, the potential for damage to infrastructure, including burst water pipes will steadily increase.
Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
206 AM EST Sat Jan 31 2026
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations between 4 and 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph.
* WHERE...The mountains of North Carolina.
* WHEN...Until 7 AM EST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...The heavy snow will make many roads impassable and may produce isolated power outages due to the weight of the snow on tree limbs and power lines. Strong winds could cause damage to trees and power lines.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow is expected to rapidly stick to roads and other surfaces due to temperatures in the 20s. Very gusty winds today could result in areas of blowing snow, causing very poor visibility.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Extreme Cold Watch
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
200 AM EST Sat Jan 31 2026
...EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 22 below zero expected with the highest peaks seeing wind chills as low as 25 to 30 below zero.
* WHERE...The mountains of North Carolina.
* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 1 PM EST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. Pets and livestock will be endangered by extreme cold if left unprotected for extended periods.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside. To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to drip slowly.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.
NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)
State and Local News
Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer has the latest as the snow continues to fall over parts of WNC | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)
• Mission Hospital placed in immediate jeopardy for 3rd time in 2 years [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]
• Greg Lindberg and companies ordered to repay $526 million as mogul lobbies for Trump pardon [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• In photos: Hundreds march in downtown Asheville in solidarity with Minnesota [Mountain Xpress]
• More lawsuits to be filed against NC State over toxic chemicals, attorneys say [Raleigh News and Observer]
• Another winter storm targets NC. See timing, warnings, more [Asheville Citizen-Times]
World News
More than three million pages of Epstein files being released | Sky News coverage and analysis | Sky News
What's next for Venezuela? | The Stream | Al Jazeera
• Iran wants to make deal rather than face military action, Trump says [BBC News]
• US-Iran tensions: Arab states and Israel navigate tightrope [DW News]
• ‘Essential’ to ICE: French IT giant Capgemini under fire over migrant tracking role [France 24]
Russo-Ukraine War
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 30, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
Radars, drones, missiles: Poland’s new air defense explained | TVP World
• Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1437: Lithuania calls Russia’s energy attacks genocide as Kyiv struggles to restore heat [Euromaidan Press]
• Trump’s ‘armada’ issues warning to Tehran [Russia Today (Russian State-Controlled News Outlet)]
• Russian troops liberate seven communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass [TASS (Russian State-Controlled News Outlet)]
National News
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says election denialism is meant "to make us feel small"| The Takeout | CBS News
• Federal agents arrest journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort in what press freedom groups say is an escalation [Poynter]
• The Astonishing Arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort [Columbia Journalism Review]
• Trump thinks a weaker dollar is great for America. Is he right? [NPR]
• Liveblog: Thousands march in Minneapolis as part of another ‘general strike’ against ICE [Minnesota Star Tribune]
Protests Challenge Federal Immigration Enforcement Following Fatal Shootings in Minneapolis | KARE-TV (Minneapolis, MN)
Don Lemon charged with interfering with First Amendment rights at church protest | NBC News
• California urges court to permit it to use congressional map enacted to counter Republican gains in Texas [SCOTUSblog]
• Democrats say deal reached with Trump to avert shutdown, immigration talks to continue [Ground News]
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Addresses U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting | C-SPAN
• xxx [The Hill]
• Journalist Don Lemon is charged with federal civil rights crimes in anti-ICE church protest [AP News]
• Government shuts down again after Democrats revolt over DHS funding [Fox News]
• Gold sinks to $4,900, silver crashes 25% as precious metals trade unwinds [Yahoo Finance]
• Everything you need to know about Kevin Warsh, Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve [CNBC]
Senate Votes on Government Funding Bill | Balance of Power 01/30/2026 | Bloomberg Television
Senate floor as leaders debate bipartisan deal to avert partial shutdown | C-SPAN
Ceasefire Podcast: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (R) & San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) | C-SPAN
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - January 30, 2026
PBS News Hour full episode, Jan. 30, 2025
Technology and Science News
Artificial Superintelligence Must Be Illegal. | Kyle Hill
The End of the Steam Age? China’s Breakthrough CO2 Generator | Anton Petrov
• A Greek star catalog from the dawn of astronomy, revealed [ScienceNews]
• France Just Created Its Own Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Teams and Zoom [It's FOSS News]
• NASA delays critical Artemis 2 rocket fueling test due to below-freezing temperatures, launch no earlier than Feb. 8 [Space.com]
• US Declassifies Vintage Spy Satellite With a Wildly Lopsided Orbit [Gizmodo]
• Does Anthropic believe its AI is conscious, or is that just what it wants Claude to think? [Ars Technica]
Crypto Currencies
Silver Drops 38% | Ben Cowen
• Bitcoin Mining Profits Hit 14-Month Low After Winter Storm Rocks Miners: CryptoQuant [Decrypt]
• Bitcoin loses crucial $84K support: How low can BTC price go? [Coin Telegraph]
NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and ASN (Aviation Safety Network) Accident Investigation Pages
• Cirrus SR22T Crash [09/18/2025 - Franklin, NC]
• Crash of N259UP at Louisville-Muhammad Ali International Airport [Aviation Safety Network]
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Published at 6.00am on Saturday, January 31, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins
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