ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
Thanks to those of you who took the time to wish me luck on the move of my 94-year-old mother. She is in my house now and seems to be adjusting. (Although, I feel the need to ask if I can stay up past 10:00). Anyway, I'm grateful to my readers and Rebecca for allowing me a few days to successfully complete this major transition. Glad this part of the process is behind me.
DRY AS A BONE
It's official, several parts of my areas just experienced their driest September on record. In the graphic below, you can see Cedar Rapids with just a trace of rain, had its all-time driest September. Overall, the month was 3.20" below normal. Iowa City for the month had .03" which was still good enough for its driest ever ranking. Dubuque, with .08", claimed its second-driest September of record.
Here you can see that Tuesday will make it 32 consecutive days with no measurable rain in Cedar Rapids. Only 2 of the last 46 days have picked up measurable amounts.
Looking at the long range guidance, rain prospects appear minimal at best. The EURO shows this for rain the next 15 days ending October 15th. Wow, should that verify, it would run the streak in Cedar Rapids to 46 consecutive days.
That would result in widespread rainfall departures of at least another 1.50 inches.
This remarkable change, after a wet start to the summer, is quite a reversal. It got me wondering what the all-time longest period of no measurable precipitation was in Cedar Rapids. My search came up with a 55-day period stretching from September 9th through November 16th of 1952. I would be shocked if this year surpasses that. I sure hope not. Cedar Rapids does have a good shot at second place, which is a streak of 41 days back in 1913-1914.
Just out of curiosity, I checked to see what snowfall was for the winter following the 51 day dry streak in Cedar Rapids (1952-53). The seasonal snow total was a hair less than 30 inches, which was nearly 3 inches below normal. For what it's worth!
Without moisture or some dynamic forcing, it's essentially very difficult to squeeze out any meaningful precipitation. Overnight, a front did find its way across the region, but its impacts will be breezy conditions and much cooler temperatures, not rain. Gusts of up to 35 mph from the NW are expected Tuesday. The resultant cold air advection will limit temperature rises to 5 degrees or less from early morning readings. Afternoon temperatures should be mainly in the mid to upper 60s. A healthy drop from the low to mid 80s of Monday.
The long range forecast continues to be void of moisture and once again stacked heavily against any storminess. A few disturbances will ripple along the W/NW flow aloft, but aside from some very isolated showers or sprinkles Thursday night or Saturday night, the primary forecast challenges will be temperatures and winds, which will bounce around a bit. These weak frontal passages, will preclude little in the way of significant temperature swings after Tuesday. Highs will remain above normal, with Thursday and Saturday the warmest days, with maximums in the mid to upper 70s.
I should point out Wednesday morning looks rather crisp, with lows down around 40. Those longer nights are having an impact.
Suffice it to say, if you like your weather nice and dry, which is great for the harvest, the next 2 weeks should be to your liking. Here's CPC's 8-14 day outlook for October 8-14th.
That's all for now, have an outstanding day and 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?
