IT ENDED WITH A BANG...

A warm and exceptionally oppressive day ended with a bang Tuesday as severe storms rocked the area with winds of up to 97 mph in Holy Cross, Iowa and 93 in Lena, Illinois. Here's a look at a shelf cloud near Lowden, Iowa captured by my friend and fellow meteorologist Kholby Martin.

The storms erupted rapidly in central Iowa around 3:00 in the afternoon. You can see the anvils go up NW of Des Moines, not far from Ames.

4 hours later, the storms had erupted into an intense squall line on their way to becoming an MCS (mesoscale convective complex).

You can visually see the bowing (arching) nature of the line, a known staple of convection capable of producing damaging winds.

Well before that, the ingredients for powerful storms were apparent earlier in the day. The heat and high moisture had produced a very unstable air mass with CAPE values over 7,000 j/kg. in spots. Thanks to dew points nearing 80, heat index values soared as high as 109 degrees. Potential energy was off the charts.

On paper, the derecho composite was amped at 14 around 3:00pm.

The microburst composite was also maxed.

The combination of these ingredients caused the Storm Prediction Center to upgrade to a level 4 of 5 moderate risk outlook for severe weather after 2:00 in the afternoon.

Wind was the greatest concern, with gusts of up to 85 mph indicated as a possibility.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued around 3:20pm. In it, SPC indicated an 80 percent chance of at least 10 reports of severe wind events. Odds of at least one 74 mph wind event were listed at 70 percent. All of these thresholds were achieved.

Here are severe weather reports from SPC as of Monday evening. Forecasters at SPC and the local NWS offices did a great job foreseeing and forecasting the event. All the storm plots are located within the SPC risk area.

As far as impactful weather goes, that's it through at least the weekend. The upper air pattern undergoes a major change to what's known as northwest flow. Our air masses will soon be originating from Canada, where the air is fresh and dry.

Feast your eyes on these temperatures the next few days. Not bad for the hottest time of the year.

Just as good are the PWAT's. Water vapor goes from over 2.00 inches Monday to near 0.65 inches Wednesday. The change is noted below.

Tuesday

Wednesday.

That drives dew points into the low 50s by Thursday. Far better than those that hovered around 78-80 Monday. The end result is sunny, dry, and pleasant weather through Sunday, just what the weather doctor ordered.

I will close with a couple of pictures I took from my deck overlooking Dubuque. This was shortly after the storms had produced 80 mph winds. I wish my phone could do justice to the brilliance and array of colors. What a way to end a wild day of extremes! Enjoy the refreshing change and roll weather...TS

THE REVIEWS ARE SPECTACULAR. 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?