SOME OCTOBER SIZZLE

As far as disturbances go, the one that passed Thursday night wasn't impressive, but it got the job done in my southern counties, where rain made an appearance late night into early Friday. The weak area of convergence managed to squeeze out a narrow band of showers and even a few thunderstorms over SE Iowa and WC Illinois. Some of the stronger updrafts generated downpours that produced localized (but heavy amounts of rain) that amounted to more than an inch.

The heavier band of rain, generally 1/2 to 1 inch, occurred from Ottumwa to Mt. Pleasant and Burlington, on to Monmouth in Illinois. North of I-80 the rains dramatically shut down and little if any occurred north of HWY 30.

One notable outcome of the system was the fact Cedar Rapids ended their 35-day streak of days with no measurable rain. Nobody was jumping for joy though as only .05" was measured, not enough to settle the dust. By afternoon most areas enjoyed sunshine, although clouds lingered over the far south, where the boundary responsible for the rain had already turned stationary in northern Missouri.

SATURDAY SIZZLE

Saturday promises to be a day of late season warmth thanks to a vigorous short wave crossing the northern tier of the upper Midwest. In doing so, potent warm air advection sends a stout warm front through the region on strong SW winds gusting 30 to 40 mph. 850mb temperatures are shown, reaching 20–22 degrees C. on the EURO. That's impressive for October 5th.

With ample mixing, relatively low dew points, and dry soils in many locations. Temperatures should rapidly climb after the passage of the warm front. A few morning clouds could be around before that happens, especially in the north, but full sunshine follows in the afternoon. The big question is how warm will it get? If we can maximize enough mixing to bring that warm air aloft to the surface, it is conceivable that a couple spots could touch 90 in the SW. The general range of 86-90 seems reasonable, as indicated by the HRRR.

That brings us to the topic of record highs. Saturday, October 5th, records are generally in the upper 80s, so that gets us seriously into the game. Here's what we need to reach for records in selected cities around the region.

Record High Temperatures, October 5:

Burlington 89/2007

Cedar Rapids 89/1963 and previous years

Dubuque 87/1922

Moline 89/1922

A word to the wise, these very warm temperatures, dry vegetation, and high winds are the stuff of wildfires. Saturday will not be a burn day around the region. The wise choice is, don't burn!

The next issue is whether a shower or thunderstorm can fire along a frontal boundary which arrives Saturday evening. The warm air aloft will provide a significant CAP and with forcing well to the north, odds are very low on anything popping. If by some small chance it did, it would happen in the far north. I'm not looking for anything at this point.

With the front to the east Sunday, breezy and cooler conditions return. Humidity levels will drop substantially as well. This sets the area up for another prolonged stretch of dry weather. The EURO shows little if any rain the next 15 days through October 19th. What a lousy pattern this has been for exciting weather.

That results in rainfall departures that look like this the next 15 days. Drought conditions will likely continue to expand, especially north of I-80.

Temperatures are likely to continue well above normal the next 2 weeks. The EURO shows this for readings the next 10 days. Man, combine that with sunny, dry conditions, and you have a product to sell.

Anyway, that's where things stand for the time being. Hold onto your hat with that wind today and enjoy the warmth, I can pretty much assure we won't see a day this warm again for many months to come. 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?