News and Weather Briefing for Saturday, October 31, 2020

OUTLOOK

Cool high pressure will build into the region today before a cold front moves across Sunday, ushering in chilly conditions Sunday night and Monday. Dry high pressure will then linger across the area through midweek.



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General forecast through Sunday night


Today Frost Advisory This Morning

Patchy fog before 9am. Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s in the higher elevations ti near 60 in the lower elevations. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Halloween Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 3am. Increasing clouds, with lows rasnging from the mid-30s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 40s in the lower elevations. Calm winds.

Sunday

Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the lower 50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations. Light and variable winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with lows ranging from the lower 20s in the higher elevations to the upper 20s in the lower elevations. Wind chills will be below 20 in most locations. Winds out of the northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with highs ranging from the mid-40s in the higher elevations to the mid-50s in the lower elevations.

Monday Night

Clear, with lows ranging from near 20 in the higher elevations to near 30 in the lower elevations.




News Brief


This is the season to give to Toys for Tots. The Smoky Mountain Chapter is accepting donations. [LINK] Cowee Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a Benefit for Junior Firefighter Dakota Collins on Saturday, November 7th. [LINK]

The remnants of Hurricane ZETA passed through Macon County Wednesday leaving thousands without electrical service. Macon Media hosted an open thread on Facebook [LINK] and posted coverage of events as they happened. [LINK]


POWER OUTAGE REPORT
(prepared at 5:00am)

Neighboring States

GA 139,961
NC 70,885
SC 42,428
Neighboring Counties

Macon 1,003 (3.55%)
Rabun 5,628 (36.01%)
Clay 87 (0.91%)
Cherokee 170 (0.99%)
Graham 4 (0.06%)
Swain 31 (0.27%)
Jackson 109 (0.38%)

If you have to be out on the roads, please be careful and watch for trees on the roads and standing water. If you see downed lines, don't touch them or try to move them. Call 911 to report them if they are a hazard or in the roadway.
Call Duke Energy at 800.769.3766 or Haywood EMC at 828-452-2281 or toll free at 1-800-951-6088 where you will find a recorded phone greeting of any outages that may be in your area. If you do not hear your specific outage announced, please wait to speak with a customer service representative to notify us of your outage.

Rolling Rallay for Trump Scheduled for Today This will be the final Rolling Rally before Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd

When: Saturday, October 31,2020 meeting at 8:30 a.m. to start decorating and roll out at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Starting point is Macon County Fairgrounds - 1436 Georgia Road Franklin, NC (across from Zaxby's)

Rally will be traveling to Maggie Valley to meet up with other counties as part of Operation MAGA. See the national website at https://www.magadragtheinterstate.com

Please respond by text preferably to John Shear! below. For more info contact him at 342-6289 and please leave name and phone number. The NC State Board of Election reminds us that voter intimidation is against the law [LINK] 

NCDHHS has issued guidance for Halloween activities during #COVID19. It's strongly recommended that alternate activities, instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, take place. Find out which activities are considered low risk & which should be avoided: [PDF]  

NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Fall-Related Events [PDF] 

Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.


Cases

762 Detected
(+3 from Thursday and +24 from last Friday and +113 in four weeks)

26 Active
(-3 from Thursday and -9 from last Friday and -7 in four weeks)

729 Recovered
(+6 from Thursday and +33 from last Friday and +120 in four weeks)

7 Deaths
(unchanged from Thursday and unchanged from last Friday and unchanged in four weeks)


Testing

6446 by MCPH
(+58 from Thursday and +188 from last Friday and +676 in four weeks)

3086 by Others
(unchanged from Thursday and +280 from last Friday and +826 in four weeks)

9532 total
(+58 from Thursday and +465 from last Friday and +1502 in four weeks)

184 tests pending results
(+58 from Thursday and +1 from last Friday and +47 in four weeks)

HAZARDS


While hazardous weather is not expected today, hazardous conditions do exist in the county as power lines and trees and tree limbs are still down. If you see downed lines, don't touch them or try to move them. Call 911 to report them if they are a hazard or in the roadway. Call Duke Energy at 800.769.3766 or Haywood EMC at 828-452-2281 or toll free at 1-800-951-6088 where you will find a recorded phone greeting of any outages that may be in your area. If you do not hear your specific outage announced, please wait to speak with a customer service representative to notify us of your outage.

Frost Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
342 AM EDT Sat Oct 31 2020
...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...The combination of temperatures in the mid 30s, clear skies, and light winds will result in frost formation.

* WHERE...The mountains and foothills of northeast Georgia and western North Carolina.

* WHEN...Until 10 AM EDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.



Air Quality

Air quality is in the middle range of green today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (1.7 out of 12) with ragweed and chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be bout the same (1.7 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County for October 31st

Highest Temperature 84°F in Franklin in 1950
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 1917
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.30 inches in Nantahala in 1949 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 0.7 inches in Highlands in 2012

TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Sat Oct 31 2020

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

1. A tropical wave located over the eastern and central Caribbean Sea is producing a concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms. This system is slowly becoming better organized, and conditions appear conducive for further development. A tropical depression is likely to form this weekend as the system moves westward across the central and western Caribbean Sea. Regardless of development, this system is expected to produce heavy rainfall across portions of the ABC islands and Jamaica through the weekend.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...high...80 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...90 percent.







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Published at 5:00am Saturday, October 31, 2020

Read More

News and Weather Briefing for Friday, October 30, 2020

OUTLOOK

Drier and cooler conditions will return to the area today, with brisk winds continuing thru the day. A couple shots of cool Canadian air will support below normal temperatures with possible frost or freeze conditions this weekend into early next week. Temperatures start to rebound by the middle of next week.



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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.



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.


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General forecast through Sunday night


Today Wind Advisory Until Noon

Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs ranging from the lower 50s in the higher elevations to the upper 50s in the lower elevations. Winds out of the northwest 15 to to 20 mph with gusts around 30 mph in the higher elevations and around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph in the lower elevations.

Tonight

Patchy frost after 3am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with lows ranging from around 30 in the higher elevation to the mid-30s in the lower elevations. WInds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Saturday

Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with highs in the lower 50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows ranging from the lower 30s in the higher elevations to around 40 in the lower elvations. Calm winds.

Sunday

A slight chance of showers before 9am. Mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the upper 50s in the higher elevations to the mid-60s in the lower eleations. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with lows ranging from the mid-20s in the higher elevatiuons to around 30 in the lower elevations.




News Brief


Cowee Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a Benefit for Junior Firefighter Dakota Collins on Saturday, November 7th. [LINK]

The remnants of Hurricane ZETA passed through Macon County yesterday leaving thousands without electrical service. Macon Media hosted an open thread on Facebook [LINK] and posted coverage of events as they happened. [LINK]


POWER OUTAGE REPORT
(prepared at 4:10am)

Neighboring States

GA 367,769
NC 192,511
SC 93,093
Neighboring Counties

Macon 2,318 (8.22%)
Rabun 15,277 (97.74%)
Clay 404 (4.21%)
Cherokee 2,409 (14.43%)
Graham 248 (3.91%)
Swain 432 (3.73%)
Jackson 625 (2.18%)

If you have to be out on the roads, please be careful and watch for trees on the roads and standing water. If you see downed lines, don't touch them or try to move them. Call 911 to report them if they are a hazard or in the roadway.
Call Duke Energy at 800.769.3766 or Haywood EMC at 828-452-2281 or toll free at 1-800-951-6088 where you will find a recorded phone greeting of any outages that may be in your area. If you do not hear your specific outage announced, please wait to speak with a customer service representative to notify us of your outage.

The NC State Board of Election reminds us that voter intimidation is against the law [LINK] 

NCDHHS has issued guidance for Halloween activities during #COVID19. It's strongly recommended that alternate activities, instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, take place. Find out which activities are considered low risk & which should be avoided: [PDF]  

NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Fall-Related Events [PDF] 

Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.


Cases

759 Detected
(+1 from Wednesday and +29 from last Thursday and +110 in four weeks)

29 Active
(-2 from Wednesday and unchanged from last Thursday and -4 in four weeks)

723 Recovered
(+3 from Wednesday and +29 from last Thursday and +114 in four weeks)

7 Deaths
(unchanged from Wednesday and unchanged from last Thursday and unchanged in four weeks)


Testing

6388 by MCPH
(unchanged from Wednesday and +200 from last Thursday and +618 in four weeks)

3086 by Others
(+204 from Wednesday and +355 from last Thursday and +826 in four weeks)

9474 total
(+204 from Wednesday and +555 from last Thursday and +1444 in four weeks)

126 tests pending results
(-31 from Wednesday and +13 from last Thursday and -11 in four weeks)

HAZARDS


A Wind Advisory will be in effect for Macon County until noon today. A copy of the advisory is posted below this segment.

The remnants of Hurricane ZETA passed through Macon County yesterday, with a combination of wind and rain knocking over thousands of trees, many of them falling onto powerlines leaving at one point over 6,000 Maconians without electrical service. As of 3am (when this was written), there are still 2,318 electrical customers out of power. Duke Energy and Haywood EMC are working to restore service to their customers.

Please treat any downed power line you see as being energized.

Frost and freeze conditions will be possible in many mountain locations early Saturday morning.

Wind Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
804 PM EDT Thu Oct 29 2020

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EDT FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

* WHERE...Portions of western North Carolina.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon EDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Due to recent heavy rainfall and wet soils, a few trees could also be blown down..

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the middle range of green today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (2.4 out of 12) with ragweed and chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be bout the same (1.5 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County for October 30th

Highest Temperature 82°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2016
Lowest Temperature 12°F in Highlands in 1910
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.54 inches in Highlands in 1918 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 0.0 inches in Highlands in 2017

TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Fri Oct 30 2020

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

1. Shower activity associated with a large area of disturbed weather over the Lesser Antilles and the eastern Caribbean Sea has become a little more concentrated this evening. Conditions are expected to be conducive for development of this disturbance during the next few days, and a tropical depression is likely to form by the time the system reaches the western Caribbean Sea early next week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...40 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...80 percent.

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
0605 UTC Fri Oct 30 2020

Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, northern sections of South America, and Atlantic Ocean to the African coast from the Equator to 32N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis.

Based on 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0540 UTC.

...SPECIAL FEATURES...

Post-Tropical Cyclone ZETA, at 30/0000 UTC, is about 80 nm to the east of the coast of New Jersey. The last forecast/advisory was written by the NHC at 29/2100 UTC. The maximum sustained wind speeds were 45 knots with gusts to 55 knots, according to the last NHC bulletin. The ZETA low pressure center has been absorbed by a frontal boundary. Precipitation: widely scattered to scattered moderate and isolated strong is within 90 nm of the ZETA low pressure center in the N semicircle, and within 90 nm to the north of the accompanying frontal boundary. Scattered moderate to isolated strong also is from 32N to 34N between 76W and 78W, and from 35N to 37N between 72W and 75W. Additional information about this system can be found in High Seas Forecasts. issued by the National Weather Service, under AWIPS header NFDHSFAT1, WMO header FZNT01 KWBC, and online at ocean.weather.gov/shtml/NFDHSFAT1.php.

A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 61W/62W, from 19N southward, moving westward 15 knots. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong covers the waters, within 120 nm to the east of the tropical wave and within 100 nm to the west of the tropical wave, from 16N southward to land. The precipitation pattern has become a little more concentrated this evening. The atmospheric conditions are expected to be conducive for development of this disturbance during the next few days. It is likely for a tropical depression to form by the time that the system reaches the western Caribbean Sea early next week. The chance of formation into a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours is medium.

...TROPICAL WAVES...

An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave is along 19W/20W from 10N southward, moving westward 15 knots. Precipitation: isolated moderate is within 240 nm on either side of the tropical wave.

A surface trough is along 12N54W 06N52W. Precipitation: widely scattered to scattered moderate to strong is from 10N to 13N between 46W and 53W.

A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 61W/62W, from 19N southward, moving westward 15 knots. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong covers the waters, within 120 nm to the east of the tropical wave and within 100 nm to the west of the tropical wave, from 16N southward to land.

A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 69W/70W from 22N southward, moving westward 10 to 15 knots. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong is from 15N in the Caribbean Sea to 25N in the Atlantic Ocean between 65W and 72W. Isolated moderate is elsewhere from the tropical wave westward.

A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 83W/84W, from 23N southward, moving westward 15 knots. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong is between 80W and the tropical wave.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

The monsoon trough passes through the coastal plains of Sierra Leone near 07N12W, to 07N15W. The ITCZ continues from 07N15W to 06N24W 05N27W 05N35W 07N40W, and 07N50W. Precipitation: scattered to numerous strong is from 01N to 03N between 24W and 27W, from 07N to 09N between 35W and 40W, and from 04N to 10N between 42W and 48W. Isolated moderate is elsewhere from 20N southward from 60W eastward.

GULF OF MEXICO...

A cold front passes through north central Florida near 30N82W, into the south central Gulf of Mexico near 22N90W, into the northern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec of southern Mexico. Precipitation: scattered to numerous strong is to the south and southeast of the line that runs from 20N92W to 19N96W. Isolated moderate is elsewhere within 60 nm to 90 nm to the SE of the cold front.

The current cold front, that extends from northern Florida to the SW corner of the Gulf of Mexico, will move southeast of the area on Friday. Fresh to strong northerly winds are possible in the SW Gulf of Mexico through Friday. A strong cold front will move into the northern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, and extend from southern Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday. Fresh to strong north to northeast winds are expected across the region from Sunday through Tuesday.

CARIBBEAN SEA...

Three tropical waves are in the Caribbean Sea. One is along 61W/62W. The second tropical wave is along 69W/70W. The third tropical wave is along 83W/84W. Precipitation is related to each tropical wave. Please, read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for more details.

The monsoon trough is along 10N/11N, from 73W in northern Colombia, beyond Costa Rica. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is from 15N southward from 75W westward.

Active weather, associated with a tropical wave moving across the Lesser Antilles, will shift westward into the eastern section and the central section of the Caribbean Sea, through Friday night. It is possible that an area of low pressure may form from this tropical wave, in the SW Caribbean Sea, during this weekend.

ATLANTIC OCEAN...

A 1024 mb high pressure center is near 32N26W. Broad surface anticyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean from 20N northward.

A cold front will move off the southeastern coast of the U.S.A. tonight. The cold front will extend from near Bermuda to southern Florida on Friday, and then stall and dissipate from 28N65W to the Florida Keys on Saturday. Fresh to strong southerly winds are expected to the east of the front, across the northern waters, through Friday. A strong cold front will sweep across the forecast area, from Sunday night through Tuesday. Expect strong north to northeast winds and building seas, to the NW of the cold front.




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Published at 4:25am Friday, October 30, 2020

Read More

Weather Briefing for Thursday, October 28, 2020

OUTLOOK

Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall and gusty southerly winds will continue through this morning as Tropical Storm Zeta moves through the area. Conditions will rapidly improve this afternoon as Zeta departs with cool and dry weather prevailing in its wake through early next week.

School Announcements Macon County Schools are on a two-hour delay due to concerns about hazardous conditions resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Zeta passing through the area. To keep up-to-date on the situation, follow their Facebook page. [LINK] 



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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.


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General forecast through Saturday night


Today

Tropical storm conditions expected this morning. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 11am. Highs ranging from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the mid-70s in the lower elevations. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts in the higher elevations ranging from 1 to 2 inches and between a half and three-quarters of an inch in the lower elevations.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows ranging from the lower 40s in the higher elevations to the mid-40s in the lower elevations. Light and variable winds out of the west 5 to 15 mph before midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday

Mostly cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with highs ranging from the lower 50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with lows ranging from near freezing in the higher elevations to the mid-to-upper 30s in the lower elevations. Calm winds.

Saturday

Sunny, with highs ranging from the lower 50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows ranging from the mid-30s in the higher elevations to near 40 in the lower elevations.




News Brief
(repeat from Saturday)

Cowee Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a Benefit for Junior Firefighter Dakota Collins on Saturday, November 7th. [LINK]

Coronavirus Taskforce Briefing for October 28, 2020: Governor Issues Executive Order to Assist Families Facing Eviction [LINK]

Due to COVID-19 cases within Macon County Animal Services and in preparation to continue essential service delivery at Macon County Public Health, Macon County Animal Services (a section within Macon County Public Health) will be limiting services until at least November 2nd, 2020. [LINK]

The 43rd Prosecutorial District Resumes Jury Trials [LINK]

The NC State Board of Election reminds us that voter intimidation is against the law [LINK] 

NCDHHS has issued guidance for Halloween activities during #COVID19. It's strongly recommended that alternate activities, instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, take place. Find out which activities are considered low risk & which should be avoided: [PDF]  

NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Fall-Related Events [PDF] 

Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.

Cases

758 Detected
(+10 from Tuesday and +31 from last Wednesday and +129 in four weeks)

31 Active
(+1 from Tuesday and +3 from last Wednesday and +7 in four weeks)

720 Recovered
(+9 from Tuesday and +28 from last Wednesday and +122 in four weeks)

7 Deaths
(unchanged from Tuesday and unchanged from last Wednesday and unchanged in four weeks)

Testing

6388 by MCPH
(+67 from Tuesday and +210 from last Wednesday and +683 in four weeks)

2882 by Others
(unchanged from Tuesday and +151 from last Wednesday and +677 in four weeks)

9270 total
(+67 from Tuesday and +361 from last Wednesday and +1361 in four weeks)

157 tests pending results
(+67 from Tuesday and +54 from last Wednesday and +37 in four weeks)

HAZARDS

The remnants of HUrricane ZETA will be passing through the area today, so there will be a fair amount of rain and high winds. Be careful on the roadways and slow down in order to avoid hydroplaining and please turn on your headlights so other mororists can see you. The rain is expected to be out of the area around noon (give or take a couple of hours) and the winds may cause some power outages and the rain may cause minor flooding in locations where there are drainage issues and there may be landslides in steep slope locations. The National Weather Serice has issued several weather-related watches and warnings, copies of which are posted below.

Tropical Storm Warning
Zeta Local Watch/Warning Statement/Advisory Number 18
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC AL282020
1106 PM EDT Wed Oct 28 2020

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
- Macon County

* WIND
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Equivalent Tropical Storm force wind - Peak Wind Forecast: 30-40 mph with gusts to 60 mph
- Window for Tropical Storm force winds: until early Thursday afternoon

- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 39 to 57 mph
- The wind threat has decreased from the previous assessment.
- PLAN: Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm force.
- PREPARE: Last minute efforts to protect property should now be complete. The area remains subject to limited wind damage.
- ACT: Now is the time to shelter from hazardous wind.

- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Unfolding
- Potential impacts from the main wind event are unfolding.

* FLOODING RAIN
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flash Flood Watch is in effect - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts

- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for moderate flooding rain
- The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
- PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for moderate flooding from heavy rain. Evacuations and rescues are possible.
- PREPARE: Consider protective actions if you are in an area vulnerable to flooding.
- ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings. Failure to take action may result in serious injury or loss of life.

- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Significant
- Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches overflow.
- Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures.

* TORNADO
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
- Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes
- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Tornadoes not expected
- The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
- PLAN: Tornadoes are not expected. Showers and thunderstorms with gusty winds may still occur.
- PREPARE: Little to no preparations needed to protect against tornadoes at this time. Keep informed of the latest tornado situation.
- ACT: Listen for changes in the forecast.

- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Little to None
- Little to no potential impacts from tornadoes.

* FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- https://readync.org

Flash Flood Watch
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1038 PM EDT Wed Oct 28 2020

.Deep tropical moisture will spread over the region tonight as Hurricane Zeta makes landfall over the central Gulf Coast. As Zeta moves across the Deep South tonight, bands of heavy rainfall will develop over the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Heavy rainfall coverage will increase over the southern Appalachians Thursday morning as the remnants of Zeta pass overhead. Flash flooding will be possible where the heaviest accumulations occur over the mountains, escarpment, and adjacent foothills. The heavy rainfall and flash flood threat will quickly come to an end Thursday afternoon as Zeta departs the region.

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* portions of northeast Georgia, western North Carolina, and upstate South Carolina, including the following areas,

in northeast Georgia,

Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens.

In western North Carolina,

Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Eastern McDowell, Graham, Greater Burke, Greater Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Polk Mountains, Rutherford Mountains, Southern Jackson, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

In upstate South Carolina,

Greenville Mountains, Oconee Mountains, and Pickens Mountains.

* through Thursday afternoon

* Deep tropical moisture associated with Zeta will move into the region tonight. Heavy rainfall is expected to develop late tonight across the southern mountains and increase in coverage and intensity over the rest of the mountain and foothill region through Thursday morning as the remnants of Zeta move quickly across the southern Appalachians. Despite the fast storm motion, intense rain rates of 1-3" per hour and total rainfall of 2-4 inches, locally 5+ across favored ridgetops in the southern mountains through Thursday afternoon. Elevated soil moisture and streamflows ahead of Zeta only increases the likelihood of rapid stream rises and flash flooding due to heavy rainfall.

* Rapid rises of area streams are likely with several streams possibly exceeding bankfull, resulting in areas of flash flooding. Expect primary impacts to occur to adjacent low- lying areas that typically flood, including farmland, parks, and low-water crossings. However, an isolated area or two of more significant flash flooding is possible. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of urban areas as well. Isolated debris flows or landslides are possible near steeper slopes that receive 4+ inches of rain. A few mainstem rivers, especially the Little Tennessee, Tuckasegee, Pigeon, and upper French Broad, may also experience minor flooding during the day on Thursday and high river levels may persist into Friday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means there is a potential for rapid onset flooding based on current forecasts. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation and may impact areas that do not typically flood. Please monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared to take action quickly should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Rainfall of more than five inches in similar storms has been associated with an increased risk of landslides and rockslides. If you live on a mountainside or in a cove at the base of a mountain, especially near a stream, be ready to leave in advance of the storm or as quickly as possible should rising water, moving earth, or rocks threaten. Consider postponing travel along mountain roads during periods of heavy rainfall.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.40 out of 12) with ragweed and chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be bout the same (2.2 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County for October 29th

Highest Temperature 81°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2016
Lowest Temperature 16°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 5.20 inches in Highlands in 1918 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 0.5 inches in Highlands in 1910

TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Thu Oct 29 2020

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on recently downgraded Tropical Storm Zeta, located over central Alabama.

1. A broad area of low pressure is expected to form over the southwestern Caribbean Sea during the next few days. Gradual development of this system is possible thereafter, and a tropical depression could form early next week while the system meanders over the southwestern Caribbean Sea.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...medium...40 percent.

Hurricane Zeta Discussion Number 18
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL282020
1000 PM CDT Wed Oct 28 2020

The center of Zeta made landfall on the Louisiana coast south of Cocodrie at about 4 pm CDT with maximum sustained winds of about 95 kt. Since then, the hurricane has raced across southeastern Louisiana and is now over southeastern Mississippi. While the sustained winds have been coming down, the satellite presentation is actually not very degraded for a system that has been over land for this long, and there have been reports of 100-mph wind gusts during the past couple of hours. The initial wind speed is set to 70 kt on the basis of radar velocities and the decay-SHIPS model.

The hurricane is accelerating tonight toward the northeast or 040/27 kt. While Zeta should continue to weaken due to land effects, strong gusty winds are likely to occur near and east of the center due to the cyclone moving rapidly northeastward, allowing these strong winds to spread well inland. Little change was made to the intensity forecast. Zeta should become extratropical and merge with a front before moving off the Mid-Atlantic coast, eventually merging with a frontal boundary in a couple of days. The official track forecast most closely follows a blend of the model consensus and the GFS, and is faster than the last NHC track.

Note that the wind gust factor for this hurricane is higher than typical for a tropical cyclone, and that is reflected in the Forecast/Advisory product.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. A dangerous storm surge is continuing along portions of the Mississippi and Alabama coastline and will gradually subside in the early morning hours on Thursday.

2. Dangerous hurricane conditions expected to continue for the next few hours near and along the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines. Tropical storm conditions will also continue for portions of the Tropical Storm Warning area along the Alabama and far western Florida Panhandle coasts.

3. Strong, damaging wind gusts, which could cause tree damage and power outages, will spread well inland across portions of southeastern Mississippi, Alabama, northern Georgia, the Carolinas, and southeastern Virginia overnight and Thursday due to Zeta's fast forward speed. Wind gusts could be especially severe across the southern Appalachian Mountains on Thursday.

4. Through Thursday, heavy rainfall is expected from portions of the central U.S. Gulf Coast into the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, southern to central Appalachians, and Mid-Atlantic States near and in advance of Zeta. This rainfall will lead to flash, urban, small stream, and minor river flooding.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 29/0300Z 31.5N 88.7W 70 KT 80 MPH...INLAND
12H 29/1200Z 35.5N 83.5W 45 KT 50 MPH...INLAND
24H 30/0000Z 39.5N 73.0W 45 KT 50 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
36H 30/1200Z 42.5N 59.0W 45 KT 50 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
48H 31/0000Z...DISSIPATED




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Published at 4:50am Thursday, October 29, 2020

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Weather Briefing for Wednesday, October 28, 2020

OUTLOOK

Rain chances are expected to increase as Tropical Storm Zeta makes landfall and moves through the Deep South. Periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected overnight tonight through Thursday as the remnants of Zeta pass over the region. Conditions will improve for Friday with cool, dry weather expected through early next week.



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Day Sponsor

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When: Saturday, October 31,2020 meeting at 8:30 a.m. to start decorating and roll out at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Starting point is Macon County Fairgrounds - 1436 Georgia Road Franklin, NC (across from Zaxby's)

Rally will be traveling to Maggie Valley to meet up with other counties as part of Operation MAGA. See the national website at https://www.magadragtheinterstate.com

Please respond by text preferably to John Shear! below. For more info contact him at 342-6289 and please leave name and phone number.



Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

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General forecast through Friday night


Today

Patchy fog before 2pm. A chance of showers before 2pm, then rain likely. Otherwise, cloudy, with highs ranging from the lower 60s in the higher elevations to near 70 in the lower elecations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers and rain likely overnight. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog. Lows rainging from the upper 50s in the higher elevations to the lower 50s in the lower elevations. Calm winds increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday

Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Highs ranging from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 70s in the lower elevations. Winds from the remnants of ZETA should be at maximum between 6 am to 6pm in the lower elevations with winds starting as early as 3am in the higher elevations and are expected to continue until 3am or so Friday morning. Winds will be out of the southeast 15 to 20 mph in the lower elevations in the morning and shifting over the course of several hours to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust to between 15 to 25 mph in the lower elevations and to between 20 to 35 mph in the higher elevations. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and two inches possible.

Thursday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 10pm, then a slight chance of rain after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows dropping to near 40 in the higher elevations and the mid-40s on the lower elevations. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph before midnight shifting to come out of the northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the low-to-mid 50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with lows dropping below freezing in the higher elevations and the mid-30s in the lower elevations.




News Brief
(repeat from Saturday)

Cowee Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a Benefit for Junior Firefighter Dakota Collins on Saturday, November 7th. [LINK]

Due to COVID-19 cases within Macon County Animal Services and in preparation to continue essential service delivery at Macon County Public Health, Macon County Animal Services (a section within Macon County Public Health) will be limiting services until at least November 2nd, 2020. [LINK]

The 43rd Prosecutorial District Resumes Jury Trials [LINK]

The NC State Board of Election reminds us that voter intimidation is against the law [LINK] 

NCDHHS has issued guidance for Halloween activities during #COVID19. It's strongly recommended that alternate activities, instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, take place. Find out which activities are considered low risk & which should be avoided: [PDF]  

NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Fall-Related Events [PDF] 

Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.


Cases

748 Detected
(+1 from Monday and +30 from last Tuesday and +126 in four weeks)

30 Active
(-7 from Monday and +9 from last Tuesday and +12 in four weeks)

711 Recovered
(+8 from Monday and +21 from last Tuesday and +114 in four weeks)

7 Deaths
(unchanged from Monday and unchanged from last Tuesday and unchanged in four weeks)


Testing

6321 by MCPH
(unchanged from Monday and +185 from last Tuesday and +660 in four weeks)

2882 by others
(+73 from Monday and +151 from last Tuesday and +678 in four weeks)

9203 total
(+73 from Monday and +336 from last Tuesday and +1398 in four weeks)

90 tests pending results
(-42 from Monday and -6 from last Tuesday and -10 in four weeks)

HAZARDS

Patchy dense fog is possible this morning mainly across the mountain valleys. The fog could stick around into the afternoon hours.

TONIGHT and TOMORROW

A small chance of flooding rainfall and damaging winds is expected for much of the area tonight through Thursday as the remnants of tropical cyclone Zeta sweep across the region. Monitor the latest forecast for updates on this system.


Air Quality

Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.40 out of 12) with ragweed and chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be bout the same (0.4 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County for October 28th

Highest Temperature 83°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2014
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.30 inches in Highlands in 1918 Greatest One-Day Snowfall (there has been snowfall recorded on this date since record-keeping began in 1872)

TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)



Tropical Tidbit from Levi Cowan (video recorded yesterday)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Wed Oct 28 2020

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on recently upgraded Hurricane Zeta, located over the central Gulf of Mexico.

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.

Tropical Storm Zeta Discussion Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL282020
1000 PM CDT Tue Oct 27 2020

Satellite images show that Zeta is becoming better organized tonight with a ragged eye feature now present, plenty of deep convection and a more symmetric appearance. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft has found increasing winds on this flight, recently recording peak flight-level winds of 65 kt and a minimum pressure of around 990 mb. The initial wind speed is raised to 60 kt on the basis of the wind data.

The improving cloud pattern of Zeta is usually one that favors intensification in the short term. In addition, microwave data from a couple hours ago indicated that a 37 GHz low-level ring was present, which also can be a harbinger of strengthening, and sometimes that strengthening is on the rapid side. Since the storm remains over warm water with fairly light shear, the NHC forecast still anticipates Zeta regaining hurricane intensity within the next 6 hours and making a second landfall as a hurricane. The new NHC forecast is a little higher than the previous one, remaining on the high side of the guidance. After landfall, Zeta is likely to become an extratropical cyclone while it approaches the eastern United States in a couple of days, and become absorbed by the same frontal system.

Zeta is moving northwestward a little faster tonight (325/13 kt). The storm is expected to turn northward and move along the western side of a mid-level anticyclone centered east of Florida through Wednesday morning. A deep cold low (responsible for the southern Plains ice storm) approaching from the west will cause Zeta to sharply accelerate north-northeastward and move inland along the southeastern Louisiana coast Wednesday afternoon. The cyclone should continue to accelerate ahead of the trough and move over the southeastern and eastern U.S. through Thursday. Similar to the last forecast, the official track forecast was moved slightly westward during the first 24 hours, not too dissimilar from a consensus of the latest GFS, UKMET and ECMWF forecasts.

Given Zeta's acceleration near landfall, strong winds are likely to spread well inland along the northern Gulf coast Wednesday night.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. A life-threatening storm surge is expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast by late Wednesday, with the highest inundation occurring somewhere between the Mouth of the Pearl River and Dauphin Island, Alabama. Residents in the Storm Surge Warning area should follow any advice given by local officials.

2. Hurricane conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon within portions of the Hurricane Warning area between Morgan City, Louisiana, and the Mississippi/Alabama border. Damaging winds, especially in gusts, will spread well inland across portions of southeast Mississippi and southern Alabama Wednesday night due to Zeta's fast forward speed.

3. Localized heavy rainfall from Zeta will continue tonight in portions of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and western Cuba where additional flash flooding is possible in urban areas. Between tonight and Thursday, heavy rainfall is expected from portions of the central U.S. Gulf Coast into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic States near and in advance of Zeta. This rainfall will lead to flash, urban, small stream, and minor river flooding.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 28/0300Z 23.8N 91.2W 60 KT 70 MPH
12H 28/1200Z 26.0N 91.7W 75 KT 85 MPH
24H 29/0000Z 30.2N 89.7W 65 KT 75 MPH...INLAND
36H 29/1200Z 35.0N 84.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
48H 30/0000Z 39.5N 74.5W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
60H 30/1200Z...DISSIPATED




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 4:50am Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Read More