OUTLOOK
A persistent upper level ridge will remain over the region through the middle of the week. Warm temperatures will drop closer to normal through the work week. Deep moisture will increase, raising rain and thunderstorm chances through mid-week as Tropical Storm Michael moves northward towards the Gulf coast. There is potential for the remnants of the storm to impact our region in the form of rainfall late in the week or in the weekend.
During the month of October, REACH is participating in the Purple Purse Challenge. This Challenge unites nonprofits in a national competition to raise funds for life-changing services for domestic violence survivors. 100% of donations go directly to REACH and they allow REACH to compete for weekly cash prizes and bonus challenges supported by the Allstate Foundation!
You can make a donation securely online through the link below:
www.crowdrise.com/reachofmaconcounty-purplepurse2018
Thank you for your time and support!
Visit REACH of Macon County online at the following locations:
Facebook [LINK]
Website [LINK]
If you have an emergency situation regarding domestic violence, please call 911
REACH 24/7 Hotline:
Macon County 828-369-5544
Jackson County 828-586-8969
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 are located at 120 Depot Street.
They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
Record Weather Events for October 8th
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 85°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2007
Lowest Temperature 26°F in Highlands in 1920
Greatest Rainfall 3.50 inches in Franklin in 1879
(The rainfall was due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Five of the 1879 Hurricane Season. This was before storms were named).
Record Weather Events for October (1872-2017)
Highest Temperature 91°F in Franklin on Oct 5, 1954
Lowest Temperature 12°F in Highlands on Oct 30, 1910
Greatest Rainfall 9.91 inches in Highlands on Oct 4, 1964
Greatest Snowfall 1.0 inches in Highlands on October 20, 1913
An expanded almanac is available that covers record weather events, climate averages, and an astronomy section. [LINK]
WEATHER FORECAST MAPS
Forecast maps for 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
(These images replace the three-day forecast maps)
FRANKLIN AREA
Columbus Day
A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Widespread dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday
A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then showers likely between 1am and 5am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
OTTO AREA
Columbus Day
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Widespread dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 60s. East southeast wind around 7 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the low-to-mid 70s. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers likely between 1am and 4am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Highs in the low-to-mid 70s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
HIGHLANDS AREA
Columbus Day
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a chance of showers between 7am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Areas of fog before noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with highs in the upper 60s. East southeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 50s. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday
Showers likely, mainly after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. East wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers likely between 1am and 4am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Highs near the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Lows around the lower 60s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
NANTAHALA AREA
Columbus Day
A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near the mid 70s. East southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday
A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near the mid-70s. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Lows near the lower 60s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
GOES-16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR
11:52 pm last night to 2:52 am this morning
GeoColor is a multispectral product composed of True Color (using a simulated green component) during the daytime, and an Infrared product that uses bands 7 and 13 at night. During the day, the imagery looks approximately as it would appear when viewed with human eyes from space. At night, the blue colors represent liquid water clouds such as fog and stratus, while gray to white indicate higher ice clouds, and the city lights come from a static database that was derived from the VIIRS Day Night Band.
Geocolor was developed at the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and STAR's Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMMB).
HAZARDS
Hazardous weather is not expected today.
Tropical Storm Michael, near the Yucatan Peninsula, will cross the Gulf of Mexico over the next few days and is expected to make landfall near the Florida panhandle on Wednesday. There is potential for this system to eventually impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia later in the week. All interests should closely follow the development and forecast of this tropical cyclone.
Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.
As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN
GOES 16 - Band 15 - 12.3 µm - Dirty Longwave Window - IR (Precipitation)
111:32 pm last night to 2:27 am this morning
12.3 µm - "Dirty" Longwave IR Window Band - 2 km resolution - Band 15 at 12.3 µm offers nearly continuous monitoring for numerous applications, though usually through a split window difference with a cleaner window channel. These differences can better estimate low-level moisture, volcanic ash, airborne dust/sand, sea surface temperature, and cloud particle size.
TROPICAL TIDBITS UPDATE
Levi Cowan of TropicalTidbits.com has an update on Tropical Storm Michael. This video was posted last night. Levi is Macon Media's favorite tropical forecaster because he does not succumb to the temptation to hype tropical systems. He gives his opinions based on science, not emotion or the desire to garner more eyeballs to his product.
TROPICAL OUTLOOK
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Mon Oct 8 2018
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Michael, located over the northwestern Caribbean Sea, and on Tropical Storm Leslie, located over the central Atlantic Ocean.
1. A broad non-tropical low-pressure system located about midway between the Azores and Canary Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Significant development of this system is unlikely due to unfavorable environmental conditions. This low is expected to move east-southeastward during the next couple of days.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...10 percent.
2. An area of low pressure, associated with a tropical wave, is located several hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands. This system is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, and some slow development is possible during the next few days while it moves west-northwestward. By late this week, however, upper-level winds are expected to become unfavorable for development.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...20 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...30 percent.
MACON CALENDAR
If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphics. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.
Organizers of political events must make themselves available for a video interview at least 7 days before a political event they wish Macon Media to promote. Two weeks is the preferred time frame to maximize awareness.
Fontana Regional Library Catalog Changes Set for Oct 11th-15th
From Thursday, October 11 through Monday, October 15, the NC Cardinal library catalog (shared by Fontana Regional Library and more than 160 libraries across the state) will undergo necessary maintenance and upgrading. During that time, the online catalog will not be fully available either to patrons or to library staff. [LINK] http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/fontana-regional-library-catalog.html
REACH Poetry Night
REACH of Macon County has scheduled a Poetry Night in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Ratheskeller for Wednesday, October 17th from 7 pm until the last poet has been heard. Learn more at https://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/reach-schedules-poetry-night-in-honor.html
Uptown Gallery classes
(These are on-going classes – repeat weekly)
Free classes and open studio times are being offered at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm or on Thursday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Bring your own materials and join an on-going drawing course led by gallery artists on Fridays, from 11am – 2 pm. For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at (828) 349 – 4607.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South
Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)
Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.
Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future
Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)
SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.
Sun and Moon
Sun
Begin civil twilight 7:08 a.m.
Sunrise 7:34 a.m.
Sun transit 1:21 p.m.
Sunset 7:08 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:33 p.m.
Moon
Moonrise 6:49 a.m.
Moon transit 1:07 p.m.
Moonset 7:16 p.m.
Phase of the Moon on October 8, 2018: New Moon at 11:47 p.m. (local daylight time)
Sky Guides for this week
Sky and Telescope Magazine
Astronomy Magazine
There will be three solar and two lunar eclipses in 2018. [LINK]
Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]
Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [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.
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.
Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.
3:20 am on October 08, 2018
#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety
Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences, and the Weather Prediction Center.
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