Weather Briefing for Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

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GENERAL OUTLOOK

Dry high pressure remains in place this weekend. A cold front arrives Monday night and stalls across the area on Tuesday. Daily showers and thunderstorms will develop through most of the week as a result.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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DAY SPONSOR

This space available

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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...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.
..TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.
..MONDAY...Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon.
..MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
..TUESDAY...Showers likely. Thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Winds out of the west around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight. There may be reduced air quality due to regional wildfires at times.

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NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)

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• He Is Risen![Macon Media]

• People on the streets. Or in trailers. Or tents. It all points to a post-Helene housing crisis in Western NC. [Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)]

• ‘Trash’ or ‘Tribute’?: Community responds to statue plaque removal [Smoky Mountain News]

• Swain County residents urged to evacuate as fire remains 0% contained [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• Legal battle over NC ballots now plays out on two fronts with Supreme Court seat on the line [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• Thousands march in Raleigh, Durham and across NC to protest Trump policies [Raleigh News and Observer]

• 'Defend Democracy. Guard the Earth' rally in Brevard sees strong turnout April 19 [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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• Top Trump econ adviser says White House is studying ways to fire Powell [The Hill]

• Anti-Trump protesters rally in New York, Washington and elsewhere across the country [AP News]

• ‘Will end badly for him’: Republican Karl Rove says Americans are already tired of Trump
[Yahoo! News]

• Rap sheets, photos of suspected Tren de Aragua gang members Trump admin tried to deport before SCOTUS ruling [Fox News]

Expert sounds alarm on Trump’s tariffs: ‘Too high, too fast’ | Fox News


High-stakes nuclear talks between US and Iran | ABC News



Former President Bill Clinton at Oklahoma City Bombing 30th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony | C-SPAN



Paramilitary RSF attacks Sudan refugee camp, killing displaced civilians | DW News



• Trump’s DOJ Sends Intimidating Letters to Medical Journals for Supposedly Being ‘Partisan’ [ Gizmodo ]
• NASA's oldest active astronaut lands with space station crewmates on his 70th birthday [Space.com]


• What Trump Firing Fed Chair Would Mean for Bitcoin—And the US Economy [Decrypt]

---

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

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Support Macon Media

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.



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Published at 5.00am on Sunday, April 20, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Weather Briefing for Wednesday, April 02, 2025 All Burn Bans in Macon County Lifted at 8am Today

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GENERAL OUTLOOK

Cooler temperatures and rain chances are in store for much of the area today, with the rain chances tapering off late Thursday. Fair afternoon skies and exceptionally warm weather end the week. A cold front brings shower and thunderstorm chances on Sunday, with drier and cooler conditions early next week.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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DAY SPONSOR

This space available

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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...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the southeast 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
..TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Patchy fog. Lows around 60. Winds out of the south 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
..THURSDAY...Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 70s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
..THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows around 60. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
..FRIDAY...Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
..FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows around 60.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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NEWS UPDATES

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• DA rebukes Cherokee County deputy after new filings in 2022 shooting [Smoky Mountain News]

• State and Town of Franklin Lifts Burn Ban Effective 8am Wednesday, Macon County Lifts Burn Ban, US Army Corps of Engineers to Remove Storm Debris in Macon County [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• LIVE UPDATES (April 1) | Burn ban lifted for all North Carolina counties on April 2 [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• NCDMV will follow Arizona’s blueprint to fix long wait times, appointment woes [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• ‘Start to heal’: Remains of man lost in Helene found, bringing relief to family [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Western NC wildfires hold steady after rain; Pisgah Forest fire least contained: What to know [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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• Cory Booker sets a record with marathon Senate speech. Will it rally anti-Trump resistance? [ AP News ]

• To watch Senator Booker's filibuster from beginning to end, 

[click here ] and move the time cursor to the 4 hour mark. It concludes at the 29 hour 5 minutes and 23 seconds.

From beginning to end, this is the filibuster by US Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) that went from Monday, March 31st to Tuesday, April 1st, lasting 25 hours and 5 minutes.

His marathon address was a protest against President Donald Trump and Republican-led efforts to curtail voting rights and immigration protections.

The previous record was set by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes.


Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) Concludes Record 25+ Hours Remarks on Senate Floor | C-SPAN



• To watch Senator Booker's filibuster from beginning to end, 

[click here ] and move the time cursor to the 4-hour mark. It concludes at 29 hours 5 minutes and 23 seconds.

From beginning to end, this is the filibuster by US Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) that went from Monday, March 31st to Tuesday, April 1st, lasting 25 hours and 5 minutes.

His marathon address was a protest against President Donald Trump and Republican-led efforts to curtail voting rights and immigration protections.

The previous record was set by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes.

Booker says he fasted leading up to record-breaking speech | NBC News



WATCH: SpaceX launches first human spaceflight to Earth's poles | LiveNOW from FOX



Oliver Stone and Others Testify on President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records | C-SPAN



China surrounds Taiwan in major military exercise | DW News



• RIP Val Kilmer, Our Batman, Huckleberry, and Plenty More [ Gizmodo ]

• Election rumours swirl in Ukraine – could Zelensky be mulling a summer poll? [BBC News]

• Melania Trump honors 'Women of Courage' from around the world [ UPI ]


• Crypto-Backed Candidates Patronis and Fine Win Key Florida Seats [Decrypt]

---

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

---

---

Support Macon Media

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!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 5.00am on Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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State and Town of Franklin Lifts Burn Ban Effective 8am Wednesday, Macon County Lifts Burn Ban US Army Corps of Engineers to Remove Storm Debris in Macon County

**5.28pm** The Town of Franklin will rescind its Declaration of a Fire Emergency Effective at 8am Wednesday, April 02, 2025

\

PRESS RELEASE (04-01-2025)
MACON COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE

The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and their contractors are working in Macon County, removing Helene storm debris from the waterways of the Little Tennessee River, Cullasaja River, and Cartoogecheye Creek. This work is expected to last until the end of April, possibly longer. We ask that the public cooperate with USACE to ensure safe and effective removal this debris.

PRESS RELEASE (04-01-2025)
MACON COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE

Due to recent rainfall, the burn ban implemented by the Macon County Fire Marshal's Office pursuant to North Carolina Fire Code Section 307.1.1 prohibiting open burning within 100 feet of a dwelling including burning leaves, branches or other plant material is hereby lifted immediately. Residents should still use caution when burning. The North Carolina Forest Service currently still has a ban on all open burning over 100 feet from a dwelling. A press release will be issued by that agency when their burn ban is lifted.

PRESS RELEASE (04-01-2025)
NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE

Burn ban lifted for all North Carolina counties as conditions improve

The N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning effective 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 2. The statewide ban went into effect on March 21 due to hazardous forest fire conditions.

“We’ve received some well-timed, much-needed rain over the last couple days which has helped reduce fire danger, allowing us to lift burn ban restrictions across the state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “However, we are still in the midst of spring wildfire season and our recent wildfire activity, especially in Western North Carolina, is a reminder to remain vigilant about burning safely and responsibly.”

The lifting of the burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue or lift a burn ban within that 100 feet.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, burn permits are available statewide. Residents can obtain a burn permit from any authorized permitting agent or online at https://apps.ncagr.gov/burnpermits/. All burn permits granted before the statewide burn ban were canceled when the ban became effective. A valid permit must be obtained.

Residents with questions regarding their specific county can contact their local N.C. Forest Service county ranger or county fire marshal’s office. To find contact information for your local NCFS county ranger, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

Read More

Weather Briefing for Tuesday, April 01, 2025

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GENERAL OUTLOOK

High pressure will bring dry and mild weather to the area today. Cooler temperatures and rain chances are in store for parts of the area Wednesday, with the rain chances tapering off late Thursday. Dry and exceptionally warm weather end the week.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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DAY SPONSOR

This space available

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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 those in the forecast, and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon.
..TONIGHT...Clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph.
..WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
..WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. WInds out of the south 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
..THURSDAY...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
..THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today. As of 3.30am, the statewide burn ban is still on, so please refrain from outdoor burning. The online burn permitting platform is located at [this link].

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NEWS UPDATES

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• LIVE UPDATES (March 31) | Alarka Five Fire reaches 1,515 acres and 62% containment [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• Six months since Hurricane Helene, Ashe County residents struggling to rebuild [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• NC GOP bill would allow school librarians to be charged over books ‘harmful to minors’ [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Stein submits 1.4 billion HUD action plan for WNC Tropical Storm Helene recovery [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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• Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave [ NPR ]

Battle over Greenland: Why Trump is so focused on Earth's largest island | ABC News



Zelenskyy Says “No” to U.S. Deal | TVP World News



• Oliver Stone to testify at House hearing on JFK files [The Hill]

• Trump keeps talking about running for a third term. The US Constitution says that can’t happen [ AP News ]

• Republicans fear Florida election upset could threaten Trump's agenda [BBC News]

• SpaceX launches Fram2, first crewed mission in orbit over Earth's poles [ UPI ]


• Kentucky Joins South Carolina, Vermont in Dismissing Coinbase Lawsuits [Decrypt]

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NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

---

---

Support Macon Media

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!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 5.00am on Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Weather Briefing for Monday, March 31, 2025

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GENERAL OUTLOOK

Shower and thunderstorm are expected to cross the area today ahead of an approaching cold front. A few of these storms could be severe. The front pushes thru tonight, and ushers in dry high pressure for Tuesday. The high will settle off the Southeast coast and keep warm southerly flow across the region, resulting in well-above-normal temperatures through the end of the week.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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DAY SPONSOR

Young Tree Service is sponsoring Macon Media for today.

They provide complete tree care, are licensed and insured. Specializing in low ground impact. Danger tree removal. Crane Service, Pruning, Views, 24 hr emergency service. Call 828-421-0967 for more information.

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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. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
..TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Showers likely, mainly in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Breezy, cooler with lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..TUESDAY...Patchy fog in the morning. Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the west 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the morning.
..TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight.
..WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs around 60.
..WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Near steady temperatures in the upper 50s.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER

A line of showers and thunderstorms associated with a cold front is expected to move across the area from west to east early this afternoon through early evening. Some of these storms may be strong to severe with damaging winds being the main threat. Also large hail and isolated tornadoes will be possible.

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NEWS UPDATES

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• LIVE UPDATES (March 30): Alarka Five Fire now 37% contained at 1,511 acres [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• Federal cuts, NC tax cuts leave legislators wrestling with how to solve projected deficit [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• NC man says his Jan. 6 pardon from Trump means child porn charges should be dropped too [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• What to do after a wildfire? Here's what to do if your property is damaged [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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• Musk claims otherwise, but the Trump administration’s spending is on track to surpass Biden’s [ MarketWatch ]

Trump won’t rule out 3rd term: Report | ABC News



Myanmar rescuers race against time as experts fear deaths could reach 10,000 | DW News



• Oliver Stone to testify at House hearing on JFK files [The Hill]

• Elon Musk hands out $1 million payments after Wisconsin Supreme Court declines request to stop him [ AP News ]

• Germany decides to leave history in the past and prepare for war [BBC News]

• Iran rejects direct talks with U.S. over its nuclear program [ UPI ]


• Iran Officials Allegedly Steal $21 Million in Crypto While 'Investigating' Corruption [Decrypt]

---

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

---

---

Support Macon Media

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!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 5.00am on Monday, March 31, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Weather Briefing for Sunday, March 30, 2025

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GENERAL OUTLOOK

Shower and thunderstorm chances increase today as cold front approaches from the west. The front will cross the area Monday, bringing the potential for strong to severe storms. Dry high pressure returns Tuesday, then becomes established off the East Coast, resulting in well above normal temperatures across the region late in the week.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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DAY SPONSOR

This space available

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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. Scattered showers this morning, then numerous showers this afternoon. Patchy fog. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times this morning. Highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..TONIGHT...Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Patchy fog. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..MONDAY...Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the morning. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
..MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with showers likely in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Cooler with lows around 40. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
..TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon.
..TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in Raleigh NC has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates for Buncombe, Haywood, Swain, Macon, and Rutherford Counties, until midnight EDT tonight.

An Air Quality Action Day means that Fine Particulates concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.

A line of showers and thunderstorms associated with a cold front is expected to move across the area early Monday afternoon through early Monday evening. Some of these storms may be strong to severe with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

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NEWS UPDATES

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• Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• LIVE UPDATES (March 29): Swain County evacuations lift, Alarka Five containment increases [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending March 27 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• New on the Appalachian Trail: Rafts ferry hikers where Helene destroyed a bridge [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Forecasted rain will help contain raging wildfires in western North Carolina [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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• Crowds Turn Out Across the U.S. for ‘Tesla Takedown’ Protests [Wired]

Israeli intelligence angry over Signal chat leak | Face the Nation



Why scientists warn against the US plans to let the bird flu virus spread unchecked | DW News



• Shouted questions at Trump have consequences: New actions by White House [The Hill]

• Myanmar quake death toll rises to 1,644 as resistance movement announces partial ceasefire [ AP News ]

• JD Vance's ominous pitch to Greenland [BBC News]

• Wisconsin attorney general sues to stop Musk's $1 million payments to voters [ UPI ]


• Bitcoin Price Wavers, Altcoins Plunge as Inflation Heats Up [Decrypt]


• Trump's 'sustained campaign of attacks on US universities & science will take years to recover from' [DW News]

---

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

---

---

Support Macon Media

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!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 5.00am on Friday, March 28, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Weather Briefing for Saturday, March 29, 2025

[click the image to embiggen to a larger size] 
DOWNLOAD MAP OF ALARKA FIVE PERIMETER AND EVAC ZONES

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GENERAL OUTLOOK

High pressure will drift further off the East Coast, allowing a gradual increase in moisture and above normal temperatures to the region. Shower and thunderstorm chances return Sunday into Monday as a cold front crosses the area from the west. Dry high pressure returns Tuesday, followed by another approaching front Wednesday into Thursday.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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DAY SPONSOR



Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Office Supply. Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at https://franklinofficesupply.com/

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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...Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon.
..TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening. Chance of rain 50 percent.
..SUNDAY...Showers. Highs in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
..SUNDAY NIGHT...Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 90 percent.
..MONDAY...A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Highs in the mid 60s. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
..MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with showers in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Cooler with lows in the lower 40s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER



...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in Raleigh NC has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates for Haywood, Swain, Macon, McDowell, and Rutherford Counties, until midnight EDT tonight.

An Air Quality Action Day means that Fine Particulates concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards. For additional information, please visit the North Carolina Division of Air Quality Web site at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING...

The combination of gusty winds and dry fuels will keep the potential for increased fire danger in place today.

A cold front crosses the area Monday bringing showers and scattered thunderstorms. Some of the storms could become severe with damaging winds and large hail being the main threats.

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NEWS UPDATES

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• DEQ Extends Purple Air Quality Forecasts in Western NC Due to Wildfires; Code Orange in Macon County [Macon Media]

• Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions [Macon Media (Franklin, NC)]

• Alarka Five Fire scorches over 1,000 acres; some residents remain evacuated [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• (video) If dog is your co-pilot, you could face a fine [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• Pets and livestock evacuations from NC wildfires prompt volunteer efforts [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Helene 2024 FINAL REPORT (107-page PDF) [NOAA]

• Western NC wildfires updates Friday, March 28: See the latest from around the region [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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• Visiting Greenland, Vance Finds the Weather and the Reception Chilly [ New York Times ]

As Trump targets major law firms, some choose to make deals and others to fight back | NBC News



Washington Today (3-28-25): VP Vance in Greenland: 'we don't think military force will be necessary’ | C-SPAN



• Bannon: Trump ‘going to prison’ if Democrat wins White House in 2028 [The Hill]

• Myanmar’s earthquake death toll jumps to over 1,000 as more bodies recovered from the rubble [ AP News ]

• Vance scolds Denmark during Greenland trip [BBC News]

• Report: US scientists lost $3 billion in NIH grants since Trump took office [ Ars Technica ]


• Elon Musk Folds X Into xAI, Creating a $113 Billion Juggernaut [Decrypt]


• US vows 'ironclad' support to Philippines, eyes China [DW News]

---

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Investigation Pages

• Learjet 55 Medevac Crash [1/31/2025 - Philadelphia, PA]

• Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky H-60 Military Helicopter [1/29/2025 - Arlington, VA]

---

---

Support Macon Media

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!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 5.00am on Saturday, March 29, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More