Weather Briefing for Sunday, March 30, 2025

---

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.

---

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

---

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. 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.

---

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.

---

---

NEWS UPDATES

---

• 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]

---

• 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

Read More

Weather Briefing for Friday, March 28, 2025

---

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.

---

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

---

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/

---

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 sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.
..TONIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Winds out of the south around 5 mph.
..SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon.
..SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
..SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
..SUNDAY NIGHT...Showers likely. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

---

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

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

Very dry conditions are expected to continue this afternoon, with minimum relative humidity in the 20-25% range across most of the region. Wind gusts of 20-25 mph are expected during the afternoon, along with very dry fuels. Therefore, enhanced fire danger conditions will continue. A statewide burn ban remains in place in North Carolina until further notice. Be sure to remind your non-internet and non-news watching neighbors and friends of this.

---

---

NEWS UPDATES

---

• 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)]

• Residents evacuated as resources pour in to combat highest-priority fires in the U.S. [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• 'We're going to feel the impacts': NC Health Department blindsided by $100 million federal funding cuts, 80 jobs lost [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) ]

• NC Senate passes health care overhaul that would crack down on ‘surprise billing’ [Raleigh News and Observer]

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

• Western NC wildfires updates: See details on multiple fires in the region [Asheville Citizen-Times]

---

• Trump Admin Plans to Cut Team Responsible for Critical Atomic Measurement Data [ Wired ]

RFK Jr. cutting over 20,000 Health and Human Services jobs | ABC News



Washington Today (3-27-25): HHS Sec says 'sprawling bureaucracy' dept. to be reorganized, downsized | C-SPAN



• Trump administration moves to end union rights for many federal workers [The Hill]

• Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with ‘improper ideology’ [ AP News ]

• Canada PM Mark Carney says old relationship with US 'is over' [BBC News]

• Measles quickly spreading in Kansas counties with alarmingly low vaccination [ Ars Technica ]


• SEC Officially Drops Cases Against Kraken, ConsenSys, and Cumberland DRW [Decrypt]


• French, British urge ‘reassurance force’ for Ukraine [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

Read More

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

 

PRESS RELEASE (03-27-2025)

NC DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

RALEIGH – Smoke from South Carolina wildfires has the potential to create very unhealthy air quality in Transylvania and Henderson Counties on Friday, and other nearby counties, including Buncombe County, may also experience unhealthy air quality from smoke. Residents are urged to take precautions.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is forecasting the following Air Quality Action Days for Friday:

• Code Purple for Transylvania and Henderson counties
• Code Red for Buncombe, Swain and Polk counties
• Code Orange for Henderson, Rutherford and Macon counties

These forecasts will be in effect starting at midnight tonight and remain all day Friday, but may be modified or extended. For the most up-to-date air quality forecast information, visit the Air Quality Portal.

Several Code Purple, Red and Orange Air Quality Action Day forecasts remain in effect through midnight Thursday. (See image for Thursday's update forecast below).

Code Purple is very unhealthy air quality. The general public is urged to avoid long or intense outdoor activities. Sensitive groups particularly susceptible to health impacts, including children, older adults and people with asthma or heart conditions, should avoid all outdoor physical activity in these conditions.

Code Red means prolonged exposure to the air may be unhealthy for anyone. All residents should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors and taking more breaks. Anyone sensitive to air pollution should avoid long or intense outdoor activities.

Code Orange signifies air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, older adults and people with asthma or heart conditions should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, take more breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

The Table Rock fire in South Carolina is producing prodigious amounts of smoke that may be carried northward into North Carolina on Friday. Additionally, several other wildfires continue to produce smoke in the region, including multiple fires in Polk County.

Smoke can carry elevated levels of fine particulate matter, or PM_2.5, which consists of particles smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles can reach deep into the lungs and aggravate asthma and other lung conditions and have been linked to heart conditions.

DEQ’s website has a list of resources for keeping safe around wildfire smoke.

State law prohibits the open burning of yard waste or land clearing debris on Air Quality Action Days of Code Orange or above. To report violations of the open burning rules, contact the DAQ regional office that serves your county. This restriction is in addition to any local or state burn bans. The N.C. Forest Service on Thursday issued a burn ban for all of North Carolina.

Read More

Western NC Wildfires Prompt Code Red Air Quality

PRESS RELEASE

NCDEQ

RALEIGH – Wildfire smoke in western North Carolina may be producing unhealthy air quality in at least five counties, and residents are urged to take precautions.

Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties may experience Code Red air quality conditions, defined as air that is unhealthy for anyone to breathe. Residents should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors in these areas. Anyone sensitive to air pollution, including children, older adults and people with asthma, should avoid outdoor exertion.

Additionally, Graham and Henderson counties and the southern mountain ridgetops in this area are forecast to have Code Orange air quality, which is unhealthy to groups sensitive to air pollution. Children, older adults and people with asthma should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors during Code Orange conditions.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) issued these Air Quality Action Day alerts in response to ongoing wildfire activity in the area that began late last week. The Collet Ridge wildfire in Cherokee County and its smoke plume remains visible in satellite imagery. The Poplar Drive fire in Henderson County may also be causing smoke impacts in the area.

Smoke can carry elevated levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which consists of particles smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles can reach deep in the lungs and aggravate asthma and other lung conditions and have been linked to heart conditions.

The current air quality forecasts are valid until midnight on Monday, Nov. 6. Each day, DAQ meteorologists will issue the next day’s air quality forecast by 3 p.m. As dry conditions persist in western North Carolina, residents are encouraged to monitor the latest air quality information by visiting the Air Quality Portal online.

DAQ monitors and forecasts ozone and PM2.5 daily using the Air Quality Index (AQI), along with the corresponding AQI color codes to help North Carolinians plan their outdoor activities. Next-day and extended products are issued by 3 p.m. with a morning update by 10 a.m. Air quality in the nine-county Triad region is forecasted by the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection.

State law prohibits the open burning of residential yard waste or land clearing debris on Air Quality Action Days of Code Orange or above. To report violations of the open burning rules, contact the DAQ regional office that serves your county. This restriction is in addition to any local burn bans that may be in place. The N.C. Forest Service on Sunday issued a burn ban for 14 western counties.

Residents should continue to monitor air quality in their area throughout this week as conditions evolve. For the latest air quality information statewide, visit the Air Quality Portal online. DEQ’s website has a list of resources for keeping safe around wildfire smoke. 

If you need this information in Spanish or another language, please call please call 919-609-2189 or send an email to Guadalupe.Jimenez@deq.nc.gov. Information about the Air Quality Index in Spanish is available from the EPA.

Read More

Unhealthy Air Possible in NC This Week Due to Canadian Wildfires Aire Insalubre es Posible esta Semana en Carolina del Norte debido a los Incendios Forestales Canadienses

PRESS RELEASE (07-17-2023)
NC DEPT OF AIR QUALITY

RALEIGH – North Carolinians sensitive to air pollution should exercise caution this week as a plume of smoke from wildfires in Canada enters the state.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) issued Code Orange Air Quality Action Day alerts for much of central and western North Carolina for Tuesday, July 18.

Code Orange on the Air Quality Index represents unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. Older adults, children of any age, and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Smoke can carry elevated levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which consists of particles smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles can reach deep in the lungs and aggravate asthma and other lung conditions and have been linked to heart conditions.

The Division is tentatively forecasting Code Yellow PM2.5 conditions for the entire state on Wednesday, July 19. DAQ meteorologists continue to monitor the available data and will refine the air quality forecasts for tomorrow and the rest of the week ahead of releasing each daily forecast.

DAQ monitors and forecasts ozone and PM2.5 daily using the Air Quality Index (AQI), along with the corresponding AQI color codes to help North Carolinians plan their outdoor activities. Next-day and extended products are issued by 3 p.m. with a morning update by 10 a.m. Air quality in the nine-county Triad region is forecasted by the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection.

State law prohibits the open burning of residential yard waste or land clearing debris on Air Quality Action Days of Code Orange or above. To report violations of the open burning rules, contact the DAQ regional office that serves your county.

Residents should continue to monitor air quality in their area throughout this week as conditions evolve. For the latest air quality information statewide, visit the Air Quality Portal online. DEQ’s website has a list of resources for keeping safe around wildfire smoke.

En Español

RALEIGH – Los habitantes de Carolina del Norte sensibles a la contaminación atmosférica deben extremar la precaución esta semana ante la entrada en el estado de una columna de humo procedente de los incendios forestales de Canadá.

La División de Calidad del Aire (DAQ, por sus siglas en Ingles) del Departamento de Calidad Ambiental emitió alertas del Día de Acción por la Calidad del Aire Código Naranja para gran parte del centro y oeste de Carolina del Norte para el martes 18 de julio.

En el índice de la calidad del aire, una alerta naranja representa una calidad del aire insalubre para ciertos grupos más sensibles. Los adultos mayores, los niños de cualquier edad y las personas con afecciones respiratorias como el asma deben limitar los esfuerzos prolongados o intensos al aire libre.

El humo puede transportar niveles elevados de partículas finas, o PM2.5, que consisten en partículas más pequeñas que la anchura de un cabello humano. Estas partículas pueden llegar a las partes más profundas de los pulmones y agravar el asma y otras afecciones pulmonares y se han relacionado con problemas cardíacos.

La División pronostica provisionalmente condiciones de Alerta Amarilla de PM2,5 para todo el estado el miércoles 19 de julio. Los meteorólogos del DAQ siguen vigilando los datos disponibles y afinarán las previsiones de calidad del aire para mañana y el resto de la semana antes de publicar cada previsión diaria.

DAQ monitorea y pronostica el ozono y PM2.5 diariamente mediante el Índice de Calidad del Aire (AQI, por sus siglas en inglés), junto con los correspondientes códigos de color AQI para ayudar a los habitantes de Carolina del Norte a planificar sus actividades al aire libre. Los productos para el día siguiente y los productos ampliados se publican antes de las 3 p. m. y se actualizan por la mañana antes de las 10 a. m. La Oficina de Asistencia y Protección Medioambiental del condado de Forsyth realiza previsiones sobre la calidad del aire en la región de los nueve condados de la Tríada.

La ley estatal prohíbe la quema abierta de residuos de jardinería residencial o escombros de desbroce en los Días de Acción por la Calidad del Aire de Código Naranja o superior. Para denunciar infracciones de las normas sobre quemas abierta, póngase en contacto con la oficina regional del DAQ que atiende a su condado.

Los residentes deben seguir vigilando la calidad del aire en su zona a lo largo de esta semana a medida que evolucionen las condiciones. Para obtener la información más reciente sobre la calidad del aire en el estado, visite el Portal de Calidad del Aire en línea. El sitio web de DEQ tiene una lista de recursos para mantenerse seguro cuando hay humo de incendios forestales en las cercanías. 

Si necesita más información en español por favor llame al 919-609-2189 o mande un correo a Guadalupe.jimenez@ncdenr.gov.

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.

Read More

Weather Briefing for Tuesday, March 9, 2021

OUTLOOK

Dry high pressure atop the region today will give way to a warming Southwest flow of air through midweek. Rain chances will increase during the weekend and into early next week as a cold front approaches from the west.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in Raleigh NC has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates for Swain and Graham Counties, until 10 AM EST Today due to prescribed burns in the area by the NC Forest Service. Since smoke tends to note obey county lines, be aware of this situation and stay indoors if you have respiratory problems if you live near these counties.

Relative humidity levels will drop into the teens this afternoon, resulting in conditions that will make outdoor burning dangerous . Please hold off on outdoor burning today.


---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.



They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.

--- END SPONSOR SEGMENT---


News Highlights

• Starlink is accepting new applicants for satellite internet service in our area. Macon Media has been accepted into the "Better Than Nothing" Beat Testing program. New applicants are considered on a first come, first-served basis. Once accepted, applicants put down a $99 deposit that is refundable and will go toward the $499 cost of the equipment. The service costs $99 a month and is delivering download speeds between 50 and 150 Mbps and upload speeds up to 40 Mbps. That speed will double at the end of 2021. [LINK]

CDC issues new guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated



• Prescribed burns planned on the Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger Districts to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health [LINK]

• Annual 4-H Plant Sales for 2021 Announced [LINK]

• The latest local COVID-19 numbers, charts, and tables have been posted [LINK]

Recent Local Government Meetings

• Franklin Town Council - March 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

• The Macon County Board of Commissioners -Special Called Meeting (02-26-2021) [LINK]

• Macon County Board of Education - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

• Macon County Board of Commissioners - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

• Franklin Town Council - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]





National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Thursday Night


Franklin area

Today
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Calm winds by midmorning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with lows around freezing. Calm winds.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Calm winds by midmorning increasing to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Light winds out of the south.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with highs near 70. Calm winds by midmorning increasing to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s.

Highlands area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Today

Sunny, with highs near 60. Calm winds by midmorning increasing to come out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s.

Otto area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Calm winds by midmorning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Calm winds.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Calm winds by midmorning increasing to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the south 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s.

Nantahala area
(Air Quality Alert Until 10am. Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds in the morning increasiong to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with lows around freezing. Calm winds.

Wednesday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the south 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s.



HAZARDS

In general, hazardous weather is not expected today. Conditions have continued to dry over the last few days, and the relative humidity levels today will drop to near 20% in the afternoon. Add to that breezy conditions, and you have a recipe for a situation where outdoor fires can get out of control and spread. Please do not conduct any outdoor burning today.

Air Quality Alert

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST TODAY...

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in Raleigh NC has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates for Swain and Graham Counties, until 10 AM EST Tuesday.

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://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ForecastCenterEnvista.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

Despite below normal temperatures across the North Carolina Mountains on Sunday, a very dry air mass will be in place. Expect relative humidity values to drop to as low as 20 percent across many valley locations, with values around 25 percent in the higher elevations. windssy conditions are expected to develop with northwest windss 15 to 20 mph and gusts to 30 mph common across much of the area. The combination of low humidity and breezy conditions will lead to increased fire danger during the afternoon and early evening.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities on whether you can burn today. If you do burn, use extreme caution since fires can quickly get out of hand under these conditions.





Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of yellow for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the lower range of yellow. This is due to smoke from prescribed burns in the region.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the medium-high range (9.0 out of 12) today with Alder, Juniper, and Elm being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be a little lower (9.0 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 9th


Highest Temperature 83°F in Franklin in 1974
Lowest Temperature 0°F in Highlands in 1996
Greatest One-Day Rain 3.30 inches in Franklin in 1880
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 9.0 inches in Franklin in 1962

March Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993 

CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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, March 09, 2021

Read More

News and Weather Briefing for Monday, June 29, 2020

OUTLOOK

An upper-level disturbance arriving from the northwest will produce another round of showers and thunderstorms across the region today. Unsettled weather will continue throughout the remainder of the week as a front is expected to stall just north of the region and moisture persists across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia.


---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---

DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.

---END DAY SPONSOR SEGMENT---


Air Quality Alert

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



Forecast Valid: Monday, June 29, 2020

Today's Air Quality Conditions: Particle pollution readings are in the Code Orange range today over most of the state today owing to a mass of Saharan dust moving across the state. Lower readings in the mid/upper-Code Yellow range are presently being observed over the Mountains and southern Piedmont, though hourly readings may jump intermittently through the rest of today; thus, the Code Orange Air Quality Alert will remain in place through the rest of today statewide. Ozone readings are in the Code Green range statewide today.

District Attorney Ashley Welch Investigates Larger Spaces for Substitute Courtrooms During COVID-19 Pandemic [LINK]

The Governor Make Masks Mandatory

Governor Cooper has issued Executive Order 147, which extends Executive Order 141's Safer At Home restrictions and requires people, with some exceptions, to wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible. A copy of the executive order and the video briefing where he made the announcement are posted on Macon Media. [LINK]



Most recent Local Government Meetings

The Macon County Board of Commissioners met on June 2nd. [LINK]

The Franklin Town Council met on June 1st. Members of the public and local media outlets were allowed in the town hall. [LINK]



General Forecast Through Wednesday Night

Today (Air Quality Alert- Saharan Dust Storm)

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with highs ranging from the mid-to-upper 70s in the higher elevations to the mid-to-upper 80s in the lower elevations. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight (Air Quality Alert- Saharan Dust Storm)

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the 60s. Light winds out of the northwest. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday

A chance of showers before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny, with highs ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. Light winds out of the northwest. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the 60s. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

A chance of showers before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Highs ranging from the low-to-mid-70s to the low-to-mid-80s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Lows in the 60s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Hazards

Scattered thunderstorms will develop across the region today, mainly this afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms will produce dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, locally heavy rainfall, and briefly gusty winds. A few of the storms may become severe, with damaging wind gusts the primary threat. Large hail is possible as well. The greatest chance of severe thunderstorms will be across Upstate South Carolina and extreme northeast Georgia. Any thunderstorms repeatedly affecting the same location may produce localized flash flooding.

Additional rounds of afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. A damaging wind threat will continue with any of the stronger storms, and flash flooding may develop with any thunderstorms repeatedly affecting the same locations through the middle of the week.




---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---


Tropical Weather
(The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th)








Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Mon Jun 29 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with a tropical wave located over the central tropical Atlantic has increased during the past few hours. Some slight development of the wave is possible during the next day or so while it moves westward to west-northwestward at around 20 mph. Strong upper-level winds are forecast to inhibit further development by mid-week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...10 percent.

2. An area of low pressure is forecast to form off of the southeastern coast of the United States on Tuesday. Some development of this system could then occur later this week as it moves generally northeastward well offshore of the east coast of the United States.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.


End Daily Weather Segment

---

---

Begin COVID-19 Update (a more in-depth article will be posted later this morning)



Here are some numbers from the CDC, the NCDHHS, and the Johns Hopkins Dashboard. Macon Media prefers the Johns Hopkins Dashboard because the counts include those non-residents that are left out of the CDC and NCDHHS numbers.

The CDC website [LINK] reports 58,816 people in North Carolina are infected, 1,303 have died, and infections are widespread, the NCDHHS website [LINK] reports 60,537 confirmed cases from 855,151 targeted tests, and 888 hospitalized and 1,318 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 60,812 people infected and 1,812 deaths.


Data from Macon County Public Health as of June 27th [LINK]


Detected 274 (+2 in one day) (+21 in 7 days) (+52 in 14 days)
Actives 164 (+2 in one day) (-49 in 7 days) (-39 in 14 days)
Recovered 109 (0 in one day) (+70 in 7 days) (+91 in 14 days)
Deceased 1 (0 in one day) (0 in 7 days) (0 in 14 days)


Testing Data

MCPH Tests 2,762 (0 in one day) (+334 in 7 days) (+728 in 14 days)
Other Tests 684 (0 in one day) (+52 in 7 days) (+252 in 14 days)
Total Tests 3,446 (0 in one day) (+386 in 7 days) (+980 in 14 days)
Pending 202 (-38 in one day) (+21 in 7 days) (+97 in 14 days)





Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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 4:38am Monday, June 28, 2020

Read More