911, THE WHAT IF GAME...

For those of us old enough to remember, the crumbling towers and smoke filled skies above Manhattan September 11, 2001, is a haunting sight etched in the archives of our minds. Over 3,000 innocent souls were taken in an act of unimaginable terrorism. 23 years later, the magnitude of that event weighs heavily on me, as does the impact of the day's weather.

As you can see in the above picture, skies were blue and crystal clear with a light NW wind that Tuesday morning. Conditions were picture-perfect, from Boston to New York and on to Washington. 500 miles southeast, it was a different story with hurricane Erin churning in the Atlantic.

One can only speculate how history could have been different if the storm had tracked closer to New York. Just a small deviation northwest would have forced the hurricane into the coastal areas of the northeast. Two of the four hijacked planes on Sept. 11, 2001, took off from Boston's Logan Airport, and one each took off from Newark-Liberty and Dulles Airports. It's fair to assume that a significant number of flights to and from the major Northeast hubs would've been canceled if Hurricane Erin had threatened the East Coast that September. Some of those airports may have even been forced to close for a while. Whether the storm would've thwarted, or merely delayed, the hijackers' plans to carry out the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil will never be known.

TROPICAL INTERFERENCE...

Another dry day is expected across the central Midwest Thursday, with the region still under the dominance of high pressure and its subsidence. Highs in the mid 80s are expected. Looking at the satellite below, It's hard not to see the vast cloud shield across the northern Gulf of Mexico associated with Francine. The category 2 hurricane made landfall early Wednesday evening in Louisiana.

The remnants of the hurricane will play a role in our weekend weather, but as was the case yesterday, impacts are still being handled differently by models. A look at the spaghetti plots (a composite of model tracks) shows what's left of the system lifting northward toward the bootheel of Missouri. From there, it encounters blocking aloft that impedes its northward track and causes the system to stall and eventually get absorbed by a trough approaching from the Plains.

Below you can see the GEFS ensemble members showing a number of potential tracks once the system encounters the block aloft. The lack of strong forcing to guide the weakening energy is causing model discrepancy.

Most guidance (including the GFS) is still coming in light on rain totals, with the primary forcing SE or well west of the region. Here's what the GFS shows for rain through Tuesday.

The Weather Prediction Center is similar.

So is the NBM output (National blend of models)

The EURO has a wetter solution, at least for parts of my area, as it forms an elongated trough with better convergence, especially across the SW half of my area later Saturday and perhaps part of Sunday. It shows this for rainfall through Tuesday.

Basically, the majority of my region ends up between the mass fields necessary to produce significant rains. Thus, some scattered hit-and-miss showers are expected, with generally light rainfall and plenty of dry hours this weekend. Clouds could be a factor though, with residual moisture in place.

The addition of more clouds will likely hold temperatures down a few degrees Friday into the weekend, but readings will remain well above normal. In fact, the EURO meteogram is quite toasty the next 10 days, showing readings like this in the Quad Cities. With normal highs in the mid 70s this is well above average.

We've got a couple more days of dry weather before we add the possibility of a few showers to the weekend forecast. Even so, they look to be scattered, and all things considered there will be plenty of dry hours and mild temperatures. For the most part, the weekend should be a keeper. Roll weather...TS.

PEOPLE LOVE IT. OUR AIRBNB IS A MOST LOVED GUEST FAVORITE!

ANOTHER 5-STAR REVIEW....thanks Myriam

AIRBNB has rated my renovated church in Galena A GUEST FAVORITE, A MOST LOVED home according to visitors. Check out some of our reviews and get in on the flexible deals we have available below.

Christa-Monument, Colorado

The Little White Church is amazing!!!! Pictures do not do it justice. I would absolutely recommend it to my friends and family. It is just so unique. Carolyn is an amazing host and super responsive. I would give our experience 6 out of 5 stars if I could.

Phillip-Queensland, Australia

Amazing and thoughtful renovation. Stayed in a piece of history. Great location and modern amenities. Would stay again!

Jill

The Little White Church is beautiful. The decorations are perfect, and it was redone with impeccable taste. Carolyn was a great host.

Brent

Such a gem. Relaxing in the countryside in a historic church that was beautifully decorated and recently renovated was exactly what we experienced. Everyone loved our stay, and we will be back!!!

Leigh

Beautiful and unique. We were all captivated by the adorable chapel turned AIRBNB

Jenny-Frisco, Texas

It was a magical place for our family to celebrate Christmas!

Kelly

What a gem! The Little White Church exceeded our expectations. It was the perfect spot to meet up with another couple to relax and explore nearby Galena. We enjoyed the beautiful great room with its fireplace and amazing views of the rolling countryside. (The photos simply can't do it justice). The charming church/home was quiet, well appointed and clean. And Carolyn was proactive with instructions and a terrific communicator. We will definitely be back!

John

Absolutely incredible! Loved the tranquility and the beautiful views. The decor was so inviting. AND the bell tower works!! Would 100% stay here again!

Tori-Cedar Falls

This place is so beautiful! Carolyn and Terry were so thoughtful and kind to let us have our wedding at the church. They even provided extra supplies in case we needed them. The private garden worked perfectly for our ceremony, and the backyard easily fit our reception needs. Not to mention, the balconies make perfect photo spots! My husband and I recommend the Little White Church and will be telling all our friends about it.

Mahesh-Buffalo Grove

Carolyn was a great host, very flexible! The place is super clean, spacious with a private backyard overlooking the fields and bluffs! We spent a lot of time on the deck. Great kitchen, clean bedrooms and baths. Highly recommend the place.

William

Great place. Great host. Will definitely book again and tell our friends.

Miriam

Carolyn and Terry's place is BEAUTIFUL! The Little White Church is a wonderful place, way more beautiful than the pictures. Everything is brand new and extremely clean. Staying at the church was a unique experience and I would love to come back soon. I strongly recommend the place if you are looking for a 5-star location!

Vanessa-Chicago

Carolyn was great! Absolutely beautiful place! I would not hesitate to go back. We spent Thanksgiving and the next night. Very well stocked and above and beyond with extras included. Thank you!

MAKE US AN OFFER...

What about pricing? Right now, we are able to offer you our best pricing ever. We have 3 nights for the price of 2 which, depending on the days, can save as much as $300-$400 dollars. If you book directly through us, you can also eliminate booking fees and taxes that the big chains charge. Cleaning fees are also drastically reduced. It all adds up to exceptional deals at a destination worth visiting. Let us assist in finding a time and price that works for you. Here's a link to some pictures. https://www.tswails.com/galena-airbnb

Carolyn and I will do all we can to make sure your stay is a memorable one. Please call or text Carolyn for more details and options and get a prime date while they are still available. Again, that's Carolyn at 563-676-3320. Or carolynswettstone@yahoo.com

Now that it's vacation season, there is no better place to visit than Galena and no better place to stay than my newly renovated AIRBNB, the Little White Church. We are located in the bluffs, just 5 miles from the 2nd largest tourism destination in Illinois. In fact, "Tourist Destination", rated Galena as the 2023 top place to visit in the entire Midwest.

Now is the best time to enjoy all there is to offer, and my 5-star AIRBNB is the perfect location to stay. Set in the rolling hills just outside of town, our completely renovated church is designed for you to unwind and relax.

Again, we are an AIRBNB Super host and can accommodate up to 8 guests. We've got cable, hi-speed WIFI, Sirius XM and a sparkling full kitchen. We are a home away from home and take great pride in cleanliness and comfort. All of our ratings have attained perfect 5-star status!

Hope to see you soon,

Terry and Carolyn

7 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT GALENA

1. It’s Steeped In History

2. It’s Home To One Of The Best Main Streets In America

3. The Restaurants Are Amazing

4. There’s A Lot To Do Outdoors

5. You Don’t Have To Travel To The Mountains To Go Skiing

6. It’s A Great Place To Spend The Fourth Of July

7. Did I Mention The Shopping?