Outlook
A cold front will move rapidly east across the region this morning, ushering in drier but windy conditions the rest of the day through tonight. Dry high pressure will dominate the southeast on Monday and Tuesday. The weather pattern will become a bit more unsettled Wednesday through Friday, but with fairly uncertain moisture return into the region that will keep shower chances minimal. Another vigorous cold front may reach the area from the west toward next weekend.
THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.
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 with your next project.
Weather Hazards
Macon County will be under a Wind Advisory today and tonight as high winds from a strong cold front crosses the region. A Flood Advisory is also in effect until 7 am along the Little Tennessee River in Otto near Riverside Road. Water levels along the stretch of the Little Tennessee in Macon County will continue to decrease over the next several days. A Flood Watch is in effect in the whole county. Copies of each of these are posted below for your convenience.
Wind Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
358 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019
...VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ACROSS MOST OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH TONIGHT...
.Strong south to southwest winds will continue across the higher elevations of the North Carolina mountains this morning ahead of an approaching, strong cold front. Winds will turn west then northwest by late morning behind the passing cold front, increasing in strength in the cold air. Frequent brisk gusts are possible into tonight. Trees rooted in soils saturated by recent rainfall could be toppled by these strong winds.
...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST MONDAY...
* LOCATIONS...The central and southern mountains of western North Carolina.
* HAZARDS...Very windy conditions.
* TIMING...High elevations already are experiencing strong southerly winds. By mid-morning, as winds turn out of the west to northwest, the threat of gusty winds will extend into the lower elevations.
* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* IMPACTS...Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power lines. Scattered power outages are expected.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Wind Advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp.
Flood Advisory
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
255 AM EST SUN FEB 24 2019
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has extended the
* Flood Advisory for...
South central Macon County in western North Carolina...
* Until 915 AM EST Sunday.
* At 249 AM EST, the stream gauge on the Little Tennessee River at Otto indicated was below flood stage, however additional rainfall during the past few hours has caused water levels to rise again. Although water levels are expected to stay below flood stage, they will likely remain above action stage through the early morning hours.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Otto.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Flood Advisory means river or stream flows are elevated, or ponding of water in urban or other areas is occurring or is imminent.
Only when it is safe to do so, please report floodwaters or landslides flowing over roads or threatening property to the National Weather Service by calling toll-free, 1, 800, 2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, by posting on our Facebook page, or via Twitter using hashtag NWSGSP. Your message should describe the event and the specific location where it occurred, including roadways, nearby cross streets, stream names, and other landmarks.
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
400 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019
...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED TO RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FLOODING FOR PARTS OF THE REGION...
.Rainfall this morning will maintain saturated soils and promote runoff into creeks and rivers that are already running high from recent heavy rainfall. This could exacerbate existing flooding, and also lead to new flooding in a few areas.
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY...
The Flood Watch continues for
* portions of northeast Georgia, North Carolina, and upstate South Carolina,
* until noon EST today
* Many area rivers have already risen out of their banks or have caused minor flooding. Additional rainfall this morning will cause rivers to keep rising. This will result in flooding on some rivers where it may not have occurred recently, and in poorly drained areas away from rivers.
* Roads may cover with water in some areas, becoming impassable. Rivers may rise into campgrounds, parks, and other recreational sites along their banks.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
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WEATHER FORECAST MAPS
Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today
Showers likely before 7am, then a slight chance of rain between 7am and 8am. Mostly cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with a high in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph in the lower elevations and 45 to 50 mph in the higher elevations. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 30. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph in the lower elevations and 50 mph in the higher elevations.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 55. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Calm winds.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low in the mid-to-upper 30s.
OTTO AREA FORECAST
Today
Showers likely before 7am, then a slight chance of rain between 7am and 8am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with a high in the upper 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 15 mph shifting to come out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 40 to 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 30. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 40 to 50 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 55. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around freezing. Calm winds.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low in the upper 30s.
HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST
Today
Showers, mainly before 7am. The rain could be heavy at times. Widespread fog, mainly before 7am. Temperature falling to around 40 by 5pm. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 to 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Clear, with a low in the upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 to 60 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high in the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 25 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 in the morning and then decreasing to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind 3 to 6 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers before 7am. Areas of fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high in the lower 50s. Winds out of the southwest 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph in the lower elevations and around 50 to 60 mph in the higher elevations. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Clear, with a low in the upper 20s. Winds chill values in the single digits or lower at times. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph in the lower elevations and 50 to 60 mph in the higher elevations.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 50. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Light winds out of the southwest.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high in the upper 50s.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low in the upper 30s.
Macon County Almanac for February 24, 2019
Highest Temperature 75°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1996
Lowest Temperature 3°F in Highlands in 1989
Greatest Rainfall 2.42 inches in Nantahala in 1975
Greatest Snowfall 5.2 inches in Highlands in 2015
Weather Extremes for Macon County for February
Data available from 1873 to 2018
Highest Temperature 79°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on 02-28-1996
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on 02-13-1899
Greatest Rainfall 6.37 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on 02-13-1966
Greatest Snowfall 15.0 inches in Highlands on 02-14-1912
Weather Extremes for Macon County for February
Data available from 1873 to 2018
Highest Temperature 79°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on 02-28-1996
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on 02-13-1899
Greatest Rainfall 6.37 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on 02-13-1966
Greatest Snowfall 15.0 inches in Highlands on 02-14-1912
Published at 4:44 am on February 24, 2019
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