COOL BEANS...

It hasn't felt much like fall this fall, but it sure did early Monday. With fair skies, diminishing winds, and extremely dry air, the longer nights of October took a toll on temperatures. Most areas plummeted into the 30s, with a few spots around Waverly and Anamosa as low as 32 degrees. I suspect there was some frost on the pumpkins in those areas as well. "Cool Beans" were noted around the region as well! In some of the deep valleys of SW Wisconsin around Sparta, mid 20s were noted.

Tuesday will get off to a fresh start as well, but not as bad as Monday. The majority of the area will kick off the day with lows in the range of 37-42. After that, the sunshine will work on the dry air, allowing readings to rise as much as 30 degrees. Highs have an excellent chance of climbing back into the range of 69-74. Just another chamber of commerce day. Boy have we seen plenty of those lately.

Dry weather continues to be relentless north of I-80, where many areas have seen less than 1/10th of an inch of rain going on 6 weeks. Cedar Rapids continues to be one of the driest locations, with just 0.05 inches of rain the past 39 days. Prospects continue to look grim for anything meaningful going forward. The next 15 days, ending October 22nd, the EURO essentially shows nothing.

The GFS is only a smidgen better.

These are the rainfall departures projected by the EURO control the next 15 days. Outside of Florida, the country is dry, and I would estimate more than 95 percent of the nation is shown with below normal precipitation. (What a persistent pattern of dry weather we are in across the nation). Seriously, what you see below is off the grids and shows the scope and magnitude of dry high pressure that is dominating our weather.

Here's the 7-day average 500mph height departures for the period October 10-17th. Heights are way above normal across the country, aside of New England.

The 8-14 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center reflects the 500 mb trend, with a high likelihood of above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall centered on the Midwest.

Not at all encouraging for precipitation long range are the EURO weeklies going out 46 days to November 22nd. The control depicts much of the nation east of the Rockies having significant precipitation departures on the order of 2–6 inches. That's a nightmare for a guy like me who enjoys a good storm.

After another good warm-up late this week that should get us another crack or two at 80, the EURO does show a significant cooling trend next week, with highs potentially holding in the 50s. We shall see.

ANOTHER STRONG HURRICANE

On a national level, the big weather story is hurricane Milton. As I write this, Milton has weakened from a hurricane with 180 mph sustained winds to one with winds of 155 mph. The central pressure of 26.49 inches was the 5th lowest ever measured in the Atlantic basin. You can see on the satellite the tight concentric eye wall when the storm's pressure had dropped nearly 80mb in less than 24 hours. At that point, Milton had gone from a category 1 to a full on category 5 classification.

As evidenced by the spaghetti plots of various models, there is strong evidence for Milton to make landfall near Tampa, Florida Thursday night. An eye wall replacement cycle is underway and that combined with some increased shear should slowly weaken the storm before it makes landfall.

Even with the expected decrease in strength, Milton is expected to remain a major hurricane, perhaps a category 4 storm at landfall. Whatever happens, Milton is likely to be a large and powerful hurricane with life-threatening winds and storm surge when it hits western Florida. The area near Tampa is near ground zero and this is not one to ride out there. A storm surge of 10–15 feet leaves much of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area vulnerable to severe inundation, and residents are urged to follow the orders of emergency management officials. This is a quote from the National Hurricane Center, "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida".

With that harrowing scenario unfolding in Florida, I, for one, am grateful to be here in the Midwest peering at bright blue skies. 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?