IN THE THICK OF IT...

It looks like our weather the next few days is going to get into the thick of it, by that I mean we'll deal with the kind of humidity you can slice. A heat dome is expanding, and the ring of fire will aim an active MCS thunderstorm track at this general area. Those factors are a given, what isn't is when and where storms are going to fire. Any rain cooled air or clouds from storm remnants will have major implications on the amount of heating that takes place. For now, there is enough confidence in sufficient warmth and humidity for the NWS to issue a heat advisory for the southern third of my area Tuesday. The advisory is out from 1:00pm until 9:00pm for heat advisories of up to 105-110 degrees.

I will caution that models such as the HRRR and EURO develop an MCS overnight that tracks SE across the SW half of my area Tuesday. Should that happen, temperatures would be significantly reduced and would not come close to advisory levels in any part of my area due to clouds and even rain in some parts of the SW. These are the heat index values the EURO shows at 3:00pm.

The GFS removes the rain and cloud debris much sooner, allowing rapid heating and heat index values of 109 in Keokuk and 107 in Burlington. What that means is the feel like temperature in Keokuk is 33 degrees warmer on the GFS than the EURO at 3:00pm Tuesday. A range that extreme means there is significant potential for a bust, and I'm a bit leery of the kind of heat the GFS is promoting. I suspect we end up somewhere in the middle, but believe me when I tell you, It's a tough call in the south. We won't have a good handle on the outcome until mid-Tuesday morning, when cloud and storm trends are clearer.

Similar challenges exist once again Wednesday and Thursday but more so in the northern half of my area. There, model agreement is consistent on heat index values being confined to the mid 90s. South of I-80, the values are substantially higher in the 100-105 degree range. No matter what the heat index, we'll be in the thick of the humidity, and it's going to be very muggy across the board.

Being on the NE periphery of the heat places my area in a vulnerable spot for thunderstorm complexes known as mesoscale convective systems. These form along the edge of the heat dome, where there is just enough cool air to bust any capping that is prevalent deeper into the heat. These ridge riders will work on the high CAPE

environment the heat and humidity provides firing with regularity, often at night when the low level jet is stronger and capping weaker. CAPE is high locally Wednesday but is monumental in central Iowa where it reaches over 7500 j/kg. on the EURO. That is tremendous potential energy if any storm can fire in that region.

Not only could there be severe storms, moisture is highly tropical and pooled, leading to major instability. As early as noon Tuesday, the EURO below shows available water vapor of 1.75 to 2.45 inches across my area. That's the type of air mass that will yield torrential downpours, heavy rains, and often flash flooding if storms can fire within it. These high water vapor values exist into Thursday. It's hard to predict the precise location of individual storms, but it is a problematic set-up that I expect will cause issues in one or more locations until the pattern breaks late week.

The Weather Prediction Center does have parts of my area in slight risk outlook for excessive rains Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here's what models are suggesting for rainfall the rest of the week. They often underestimate the potential in this type of situation and could be significantly low where multiple storm clusters end up occurring.

The EURO

The GFS

The WPC

The Storm Prediction Center does have my area in a slight risk level 2 of 5 severe weather outlook Tuesday. Wednesday is likely to see strong storms too in some part of the central Midwest. Damaging wind would be the primary severe threat.

It does appear this challenging and potentially impactful weather will pass by the end of the week. The first weekend of August looks rather warm but dry, with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Roll weather...TS.

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

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?