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Local News
Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
On This Day
Support Macon Media
OUTLOOK
Warm air will hold on across the region today. A relatively dry cold front will move southward across the area tonight. Another cold front, with a little more moisture, will cross the region from the west on Monday. A shift to a wetter pattern is then expected through the middle of next week as a series of disturbances bring Gulf moisture back into the region.
**Weather Alert**
...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT...
The state of North Carolina has issued a state-wide burn ban.
[Press Release]
Town of Franklin Declares a Fire Danger Emergency
Town of Franklin Declares a Fire Danger Emergency
[Press Release]
---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------
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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• Brasstown Ringers to Perform Christmas Concert Series [Macon Media]
• Cooper vetoes election bill that would end grace period for NC’s mail-in ballots [News and Observer/a>]
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Local Weather
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Monday Night
Franklin area
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s . Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning increasing to come out of the becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southwest after midnight. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid 50s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing.
Highlands Plateau
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s . Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southwest after midnight. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid 50s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing.
Otto area
Mostly sunny, with highs near 70. Light winds out of the northwest.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid 40s. Calm winds.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around freezing.
Nantahala area
Today
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 60s. Calm winds.
Tonight
Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid 40s. Calm winds.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after 9am. Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Winds out of the southeast wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers. Highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 80%.
Monday Night
A chance of rain, possibly mixing with snow after 10pm, then gradually ending. Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
A dry air mass will remain entrenched across the region again today, with afternoon relative humidity values dropping to 35 to 45 percent. These dry conditions and exceptionally dry fuels will make outdoor burning dangerous.
...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...
The state of North Carolina has issued a state wide burn ban due to the very dry conditions and exceptionally dry fuels. This burn ban is expected to remain in place until significant rain occurs.
Outdoor burning is prohibited. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities for further information. [Press Release]
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
700 PM EST Tue Nov 30 2021
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
This is the last regularly scheduled Tropical Weather Outlook of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will resume on May 15, 2022. During the off-season, Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued as conditions warrant.
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Almanac
Air Quality
Air quality is in the lower 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 a fire in Arkansas that has exceeded 2,000 acres.
Fire and Smoke Map
(There is haze from the wildfires out on the west coast.)
Increased smoke haze from the Fodderstack Fire in Arkansas (2,060 acres, 60% contained) may reach the region today.
The USFS report the Ray Cove Fire has been contained as of 2:30pm on December 1, 2021. 5 acres were burned.
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (2.0 out of 12) today with Ragweed and various Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.3 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for December 3rd
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 72°F in Franklin in 1956
lowest Temperature 6°F in Highlands in 1895
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.26 inches in Highlands in 1941
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 6.0 inches in Franklin in 1971
Record weather events for December in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin on Dec 31, 1951
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands on Dec 30, 1917
Greatest Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands on Dec 14, 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin on Dec 21, 1876
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot. For tickets, see [GSMR.com]
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Adapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music on Front Street. For more information, see [Visit Dillsboro]
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National and World News Roundup
• mRNA vaccination induces tick resistance and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent [Science: Translational Medicine]
• NASA to Secure Additional Commercial Crew Transportation [NASA: Commercial Crew Program]
• H.R. 5746: NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2021 [GovTrack]
• Biden warns Russia’s Vladimir Putin against Ukraine invasion [Courthouse News Service]
• Twitter Will No Longer Allow You To Post Photos Of Other People Without Their Consent [ubergizmo]
• U.S. Chamber Poll of Unemployed Americans Indicates Worker Shortage Crisis Unlikely to Ease [US Chamber of Commerce]
• James and Jennifer Crumbley arrested on Detroit's east side [WXYZ-TVs]
• Jury awards North Carolina man $6M after ruling police fabricated evidence [WSOC-TV]
• 4 officers denied immunity over 2017 fatal arrest attempt [KGUN-TV]
• China moon rover to investigate cube-shaped 'mystery house' object [CNETE]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 3rd, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 3rd, 2021
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COVID-19 News and Updates
Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 18, 2021]
• COVID-19 Post-acute Sequelae Among Adults: 12 Month Mortality Risk[frontiers in Medicine]
• COVID Quickly, Episode 20: The Omicron Scare, and Anti-COVID Pills Are Coming [Scientific American (Audio Podcast)]
• Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa [MedRxiv 9PDF)]
• 'Americans seem to have become numb to Delta': Omicron is coming, but older variant is still driving infections [Yahpp! News]
• Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 harbors a unique insertion mutation of putative viral or human genomic origin [OSF Preprints]
• Omicron variant may have picked up a piece of common-cold virus [Reuters]
• Omicron spikes hospitalisation among kids under 5 in South Africa [The Tribune (India)]
• Safety and immunogenicity of seven COVID-19 vaccines as a third dose (booster) following two doses of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 or BNT162b2 in the UK (COV-BOOST): a blinded, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial [The Lancet]
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On This Day
December 4th is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 27 days remain until the end of the year.
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
771 – Austrasian king Carloman I dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne king of the now complete Frankish Kingdom.
1110 – The Kingdom of Jerusalem captures Sidon.
1259 – Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England agree to the Treaty of Paris, in which Henry renounces his claims to French-controlled territory on continental Europe (including Normandy) in exchange for Louis withdrawing his support for English rebels.
1563 – The final session of the Council of Trent is held. (It had opened on December 13, 1545.)
1619 – Thirty-eight colonists arrive at Berkeley Hundred, Virginia. The group's charter proclaims that the day "be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."
1676 – The Danish army under the command of King Christian V engages the Swedish army commanded by the Swedish king Charles XI at the Battle of Lund, to this day it is counted as the bloodiest battle in Scandinavian history and a turning point in the Scanian War.
1745 – Charles Edward Stuart's army reaches Derby, its furthest point during the Second Jacobite Rising.
1783 – At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, U.S. General George Washington bids farewell to his officers.
1786 – Mission Santa Barbara is dedicated (on the feast day of Saint Barbara).
1791 – The first edition of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.
1829 – In the face of fierce local opposition, British Governor-General Lord William Bentinck issues a regulation declaring that anyone who abets suttee in Bengal is guilty of culpable homicide.
1861 – The 109 Electors of the several states of the Confederate States of America unanimously elect Jefferson Davis as President and Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President.
1864 – American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: At Waynesboro, Georgia, forces under Union General Judson Kilpatrick prevent troops led by Confederate General Joseph Wheeler from interfering with Union General William T. Sherman's campaign destroying a wide swath of the South on his march to the Atlantic Ocean from Atlanta.
1865 – North Carolina ratifies 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, followed soon by Georgia, and U.S. slaves were legally free within two weeks.
1867 – Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange).
1872 – The crewless American brigantine Mary Celeste, drifting in the Atlantic, is discovered by the Canadian brig Dei Gratia. The ship has been abandoned for nine days but is only slightly damaged. Her master Benjamin Briggs and all nine others known to have been on board are never accounted for.
1875 – Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison; he is later recaptured in Spain.
1881 – The first edition of the Los Angeles Times is published.
1893 – First Matabele War: A patrol of 34 British South Africa Company soldiers is ambushed and annihilated by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors on the Shangani River in Matabeleland.
1906 – Alpha Phi Alpha the first black intercollegiate Greek lettered fraternity was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
1909 – In Canadian football, the First Grey Cup game is played. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club, 26–6.
1909 – The Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club, the oldest surviving professional hockey franchise in the world, is founded as a charter member of the National Hockey Association.
1917 – After drafting the Declaration of Independence, the Finnish Senate headed by P. E. Svinhufvud submitted to the Parliament of Finland a proposal for the form of government of the Republic of Finland and issued a communication to Parliament declaring independence of Finland.
1918 – U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sails for the World War I peace talks in Versailles, becoming the first US president to travel to Europe while in office.
1939 – World War II: HMS Nelson is struck by a mine (laid by U-31) off the Scottish coast and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.
1942 – World War II: Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign ends.
1943 – World War II: In Yugoslavia, resistance leader Marshal Josip Broz Tito proclaims a provisional democratic Yugoslav government in-exile.
1943 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt closes down the Works Progress Administration, because of the high levels of wartime employment in the United States.
1945 – By a vote of 65–7, the United States Senate approves United States participation in the United Nations. (The UN had been established on October 24, 1945.)
1949 – Sir Duncan George Stewart was fatally stabbed by Rosli Dhobi, a member leader of the Rukun 13, in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia during the British crown colony era in that state.
1956 – The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash) get together at Sun Studio for the first and last time.
1964 – Free Speech Movement: Police arrest over 800 students at the University of California, Berkeley, following their takeover and sit-in at the administration building in protest of the UC Regents' decision to forbid protests on UC property.
1965 – Launch of Gemini 7 with crew members Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. The Gemini 7 spacecraft was the passive target for the first crewed space rendezvous performed by the crew of Gemini 6A.
1967 – Vietnam War: U.S. and South Vietnamese forces engage Viet Cong troops in the Mekong Delta.
1969 – Black Panther Party members Fred Hampton and Mark Clark are shot and killed during a raid by 14 Chicago police officers.
1971 – The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.
1971 – The PNS Ghazi, a submarine belonging to the Pakistan Navy, sinks during the course of the Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971.
1977 – Jean-Bédel Bokassa, president of the Central African Republic, crowns himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire.
1977 – Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 is hijacked and crashes in Tanjong Kupang, Johor, killing 100.
1978 – Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco's first female mayor.
1979 – The Hastie fire in Hull kills three schoolboys and eventually leads police to arrest Bruce George Peter Lee.
1981 – South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei "homeland" (not recognized by any government outside South Africa).
1982 – The People's Republic of China adopts its current constitution.
1983 – US Navy aircraft from USS John F. Kennedy and USS Independence attack Syrian Missile sites in Lebanon in response to an F-14 being fired on by an SA-7. One A-6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair are shot down. 1 American pilot was killed, one was rescued and one is captured.
1984 – Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Army soldiers kill 107–150 civilians in Mannar.
1991 – Terry A. Anderson is released after seven years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut; he is the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon.
1991 – Pan American World Airways ceases its operations after 64 years.
1992 – Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.
1998 – The Unity Module, the second module of the International Space Station, is launched.
2005 – Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the government to allow universal and equal suffrage.
2006 – Six black youths assault a white teenager in Jena, Louisiana.
2014 – Islamic insurgents kill three state police at a traffic circle before taking an empty school and a "press house" in Grozny. Ten state forces die with 28 injured in gun battles ending with ten insurgents killed.
2015 – A firebomb is thrown into a restaurant in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing 17 people.
2017 – The Thomas Fire starts near Santa Paula in California. It eventually became the largest wildfire in modern California history to date after burning 1,140 square kilometres (440 sq mi) in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
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Published at 6:00am on Saturday, December 04, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
Resources used to compile the information in this article include, but are not limited to the following websites or books: MaconMedia.com, youtube.com, weather.gov, airnow.gov, wikipedia.com, onthisday.com, ncdcr.gov, ncsu.edu, utah.edu, https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/, wolfram.com, biorxiv.org, aps.org, nejm.org, plos.org, cell.com, researchsquare.com, cureus.com, spc.noaa.gov, nhc.noaa.gov, ncdenr.org, medrxiv.org, archive.org, ncpedia.org, nasa.gov, https://ww2days.com, nih.gov, carolinapublicpress.org, microbe.tv, smokymountainnews.com, psypost.org, blogspot.com, pollen.com, franklinnc.com, maconnc.org, spaceweather.com, solarham.com, loc.gov, ncleg.net, senate.gov, house.gov, whitehouse.gov, drudgereport.com, politico.com, realclearpolitics.com, ushmm.org, This Day in North Carolina History, World War II Day By Day, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, The Timetables of History, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The World History and Book of Facts (multiple years), On This Day In History: Over 4,000 facts, The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space, This Day in North Carolina History, The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: From the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future, Spaceflight, 2nd Edition: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity, The Story of Civilization (11 volumes), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877, American History, Volume 2: 1877 - Present, A Complete Chronolgy of the Second World War. Weather and Almanac 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. Back to Top
---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------
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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• Brasstown Ringers to Perform Christmas Concert Series [Macon Media]
• Cooper vetoes election bill that would end grace period for NC’s mail-in ballots [News and Observer/a>]
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Local Weather
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Monday Night
Franklin area
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s . Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning increasing to come out of the becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southwest after midnight. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid 50s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing.
Highlands Plateau
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s . Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southwest after midnight. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid 50s. Winds out of the west 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing.
Otto area
Mostly sunny, with highs near 70. Light winds out of the northwest.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid 40s. Calm winds.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 70%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around freezing.
Nantahala area
Today
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 60s. Calm winds.
Tonight
Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid 40s. Calm winds.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after 9am. Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Winds out of the southeast wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers. Highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 80%.
Monday Night
A chance of rain, possibly mixing with snow after 10pm, then gradually ending. Partly cloudy, with lows around freezing. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
A dry air mass will remain entrenched across the region again today, with afternoon relative humidity values dropping to 35 to 45 percent. These dry conditions and exceptionally dry fuels will make outdoor burning dangerous.
...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...
The state of North Carolina has issued a state wide burn ban due to the very dry conditions and exceptionally dry fuels. This burn ban is expected to remain in place until significant rain occurs.
Outdoor burning is prohibited. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities for further information. [Press Release]
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
700 PM EST Tue Nov 30 2021
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
This is the last regularly scheduled Tropical Weather Outlook of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will resume on May 15, 2022. During the off-season, Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued as conditions warrant.
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Almanac
Air Quality
Air quality is in the lower 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 a fire in Arkansas that has exceeded 2,000 acres.
Fire and Smoke Map
(There is haze from the wildfires out on the west coast.)
Increased smoke haze from the Fodderstack Fire in Arkansas (2,060 acres, 60% contained) may reach the region today.
The USFS report the Ray Cove Fire has been contained as of 2:30pm on December 1, 2021. 5 acres were burned.
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (2.0 out of 12) today with Ragweed and various Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.3 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for December 3rd
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 72°F in Franklin in 1956
lowest Temperature 6°F in Highlands in 1895
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.26 inches in Highlands in 1941
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 6.0 inches in Franklin in 1971
Record weather events for December in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin on Dec 31, 1951
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands on Dec 30, 1917
Greatest Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands on Dec 14, 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin on Dec 21, 1876
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot. For tickets, see [GSMR.com]
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Adapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music on Front Street. For more information, see [Visit Dillsboro]
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National and World News Roundup
• mRNA vaccination induces tick resistance and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent [Science: Translational Medicine]
• NASA to Secure Additional Commercial Crew Transportation [NASA: Commercial Crew Program]
• H.R. 5746: NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2021 [GovTrack]
• Biden warns Russia’s Vladimir Putin against Ukraine invasion [Courthouse News Service]
• Twitter Will No Longer Allow You To Post Photos Of Other People Without Their Consent [ubergizmo]
• U.S. Chamber Poll of Unemployed Americans Indicates Worker Shortage Crisis Unlikely to Ease [US Chamber of Commerce]
• James and Jennifer Crumbley arrested on Detroit's east side [WXYZ-TVs]
• Jury awards North Carolina man $6M after ruling police fabricated evidence [WSOC-TV]
• 4 officers denied immunity over 2017 fatal arrest attempt [KGUN-TV]
• China moon rover to investigate cube-shaped 'mystery house' object [CNETE]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 3rd, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 3rd, 2021
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COVID-19 News and Updates
Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 18, 2021]
• COVID-19 Post-acute Sequelae Among Adults: 12 Month Mortality Risk[frontiers in Medicine]
• COVID Quickly, Episode 20: The Omicron Scare, and Anti-COVID Pills Are Coming [Scientific American (Audio Podcast)]
• Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa [MedRxiv 9PDF)]
• 'Americans seem to have become numb to Delta': Omicron is coming, but older variant is still driving infections [Yahpp! News]
• Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 harbors a unique insertion mutation of putative viral or human genomic origin [OSF Preprints]
• Omicron variant may have picked up a piece of common-cold virus [Reuters]
• Omicron spikes hospitalisation among kids under 5 in South Africa [The Tribune (India)]
• Safety and immunogenicity of seven COVID-19 vaccines as a third dose (booster) following two doses of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 or BNT162b2 in the UK (COV-BOOST): a blinded, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial [The Lancet]
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On This Day
December 4th is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 27 days remain until the end of the year.
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
771 – Austrasian king Carloman I dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne king of the now complete Frankish Kingdom.
1110 – The Kingdom of Jerusalem captures Sidon.
1259 – Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England agree to the Treaty of Paris, in which Henry renounces his claims to French-controlled territory on continental Europe (including Normandy) in exchange for Louis withdrawing his support for English rebels.
1563 – The final session of the Council of Trent is held. (It had opened on December 13, 1545.)
1619 – Thirty-eight colonists arrive at Berkeley Hundred, Virginia. The group's charter proclaims that the day "be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."
1676 – The Danish army under the command of King Christian V engages the Swedish army commanded by the Swedish king Charles XI at the Battle of Lund, to this day it is counted as the bloodiest battle in Scandinavian history and a turning point in the Scanian War.
1745 – Charles Edward Stuart's army reaches Derby, its furthest point during the Second Jacobite Rising.
1783 – At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, U.S. General George Washington bids farewell to his officers.
1786 – Mission Santa Barbara is dedicated (on the feast day of Saint Barbara).
1791 – The first edition of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.
1829 – In the face of fierce local opposition, British Governor-General Lord William Bentinck issues a regulation declaring that anyone who abets suttee in Bengal is guilty of culpable homicide.
1861 – The 109 Electors of the several states of the Confederate States of America unanimously elect Jefferson Davis as President and Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President.
1864 – American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: At Waynesboro, Georgia, forces under Union General Judson Kilpatrick prevent troops led by Confederate General Joseph Wheeler from interfering with Union General William T. Sherman's campaign destroying a wide swath of the South on his march to the Atlantic Ocean from Atlanta.
1865 – North Carolina ratifies 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, followed soon by Georgia, and U.S. slaves were legally free within two weeks.
1867 – Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange).
1872 – The crewless American brigantine Mary Celeste, drifting in the Atlantic, is discovered by the Canadian brig Dei Gratia. The ship has been abandoned for nine days but is only slightly damaged. Her master Benjamin Briggs and all nine others known to have been on board are never accounted for.
1875 – Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison; he is later recaptured in Spain.
1881 – The first edition of the Los Angeles Times is published.
1893 – First Matabele War: A patrol of 34 British South Africa Company soldiers is ambushed and annihilated by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors on the Shangani River in Matabeleland.
1906 – Alpha Phi Alpha the first black intercollegiate Greek lettered fraternity was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
1909 – In Canadian football, the First Grey Cup game is played. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club, 26–6.
1909 – The Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club, the oldest surviving professional hockey franchise in the world, is founded as a charter member of the National Hockey Association.
1917 – After drafting the Declaration of Independence, the Finnish Senate headed by P. E. Svinhufvud submitted to the Parliament of Finland a proposal for the form of government of the Republic of Finland and issued a communication to Parliament declaring independence of Finland.
1918 – U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sails for the World War I peace talks in Versailles, becoming the first US president to travel to Europe while in office.
1939 – World War II: HMS Nelson is struck by a mine (laid by U-31) off the Scottish coast and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.
1942 – World War II: Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign ends.
1943 – World War II: In Yugoslavia, resistance leader Marshal Josip Broz Tito proclaims a provisional democratic Yugoslav government in-exile.
1943 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt closes down the Works Progress Administration, because of the high levels of wartime employment in the United States.
1945 – By a vote of 65–7, the United States Senate approves United States participation in the United Nations. (The UN had been established on October 24, 1945.)
1949 – Sir Duncan George Stewart was fatally stabbed by Rosli Dhobi, a member leader of the Rukun 13, in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia during the British crown colony era in that state.
1956 – The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash) get together at Sun Studio for the first and last time.
1964 – Free Speech Movement: Police arrest over 800 students at the University of California, Berkeley, following their takeover and sit-in at the administration building in protest of the UC Regents' decision to forbid protests on UC property.
1965 – Launch of Gemini 7 with crew members Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. The Gemini 7 spacecraft was the passive target for the first crewed space rendezvous performed by the crew of Gemini 6A.
1967 – Vietnam War: U.S. and South Vietnamese forces engage Viet Cong troops in the Mekong Delta.
1969 – Black Panther Party members Fred Hampton and Mark Clark are shot and killed during a raid by 14 Chicago police officers.
1971 – The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.
1971 – The PNS Ghazi, a submarine belonging to the Pakistan Navy, sinks during the course of the Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971.
1977 – Jean-Bédel Bokassa, president of the Central African Republic, crowns himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire.
1977 – Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 is hijacked and crashes in Tanjong Kupang, Johor, killing 100.
1978 – Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco's first female mayor.
1979 – The Hastie fire in Hull kills three schoolboys and eventually leads police to arrest Bruce George Peter Lee.
1981 – South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei "homeland" (not recognized by any government outside South Africa).
1982 – The People's Republic of China adopts its current constitution.
1983 – US Navy aircraft from USS John F. Kennedy and USS Independence attack Syrian Missile sites in Lebanon in response to an F-14 being fired on by an SA-7. One A-6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair are shot down. 1 American pilot was killed, one was rescued and one is captured.
1984 – Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Army soldiers kill 107–150 civilians in Mannar.
1991 – Terry A. Anderson is released after seven years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut; he is the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon.
1991 – Pan American World Airways ceases its operations after 64 years.
1992 – Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.
1998 – The Unity Module, the second module of the International Space Station, is launched.
2005 – Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the government to allow universal and equal suffrage.
2006 – Six black youths assault a white teenager in Jena, Louisiana.
2014 – Islamic insurgents kill three state police at a traffic circle before taking an empty school and a "press house" in Grozny. Ten state forces die with 28 injured in gun battles ending with ten insurgents killed.
2015 – A firebomb is thrown into a restaurant in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing 17 people.
2017 – The Thomas Fire starts near Santa Paula in California. It eventually became the largest wildfire in modern California history to date after burning 1,140 square kilometres (440 sq mi) in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
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Published at 6:00am on Saturday, December 04, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
Resources used to compile the information in this article include, but are not limited to the following websites or books: MaconMedia.com, youtube.com, weather.gov, airnow.gov, wikipedia.com, onthisday.com, ncdcr.gov, ncsu.edu, utah.edu, https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/, wolfram.com, biorxiv.org, aps.org, nejm.org, plos.org, cell.com, researchsquare.com, cureus.com, spc.noaa.gov, nhc.noaa.gov, ncdenr.org, medrxiv.org, archive.org, ncpedia.org, nasa.gov, https://ww2days.com, nih.gov, carolinapublicpress.org, microbe.tv, smokymountainnews.com, psypost.org, blogspot.com, pollen.com, franklinnc.com, maconnc.org, spaceweather.com, solarham.com, loc.gov, ncleg.net, senate.gov, house.gov, whitehouse.gov, drudgereport.com, politico.com, realclearpolitics.com, ushmm.org, This Day in North Carolina History, World War II Day By Day, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, The Timetables of History, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The World History and Book of Facts (multiple years), On This Day In History: Over 4,000 facts, The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space, This Day in North Carolina History, The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: From the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future, Spaceflight, 2nd Edition: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity, The Story of Civilization (11 volumes), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877, American History, Volume 2: 1877 - Present, A Complete Chronolgy of the Second World War. Weather and Almanac 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. Back to Top
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