North Carolina Visitor & Relocation Guide - Franklin Chamber of ...

Geography & Climate
Geography
Macon County is located in southwestern North
Carolina, about 65 miles west of Asheville, NC and 130
miles north of Atlanta, GA. The county lies within the
Blue Ridge Physiographic Providence and contains
several mountain ranges with peaks over 5,000 feet in
elevation.
The county land area is 516 sq. miles and the population
is 33,756. Franklin, the county seat, lies near the
center of the county at an elevation of 2,110 feet with a
population of 3,490. Highlands is the other major town
in the county with a population of 1,100 year round
residents and is the highest incorporated town (4,118
feet) east of the Mississippi River. Major highways run
north - south in the Little Tennessee River Basin and
east - west across mountain ranges.
44 VisitFranklinNC.com
Climate
Climate of the region is classed as Marine, Humid,
Temperate because of high moisture and mild
temperatures. Four distinct seasons provide a diverse
climate. Although the county is in one of the highest
rainfall zones in the eastern U.S., there can be large spatial
variability in precipitation amounts during storm events.
Average Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit)
Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, 1934-2007
Month Maximum Minimum Mean
January 49.65 27.20 38.42
February 52.83 28.67 40.75
March 60.10 34.20 47.16
April 68.84 41.21 55.03
May 75.64 48.29 61.94
June 81.21 55.44 68.32
July 83.60 59.17 71.38
August 82.92 58.68 70.80
September 77.78 52.86 65.32
October 69.87 41.96 55.91
November 59.82 33.69 46.72
December 51.43 28.02 39.72
Precipitation
Precipitation is usually abundant in all months but
greatest occur in late winter and smallest amounts
during the fall season. Snow comprises only 2 to 10%
of the annual precipitation at low elevations. Average
annual precipitation is about 70 inches at low elevations
but is highly variable from year to year. The driest year
on record at Coweeta occurred in 2007 with only 47.7
inches at the base station, which is a 22.9-inch deficit
for the year. In general, precipitation increases with
elevation, and, at Coweeta, averages about 90 inches
at the highest elevations.
Average Monthly Precipitation (inches)
Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, 1934-2007
Month
Month
January 6.85 July 5.45
February 6.90 August 5.36
March 7.56 September 5.24
April 5.76 October 4.36
May 5.22 November 5.86
June 5.50 December 6.62