SUMMER MAKES IT OFFICIAL

THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

Today, at 3:51 P.M., Summer officially begins, the moment when the sun reaches the point where it's considered to be as far north it goes— 23.5 degrees from the celestial equator.  This location on the Earth is known as the Tropic of Cancer. The word solstice literally means "sun standing still."  It is derived from combining the Latin words sol for "sun" and sistere for “To Stand Still”. 

For the previous six months, the sun has been steadily migrating on a northerly course in the sky. At the moment of the solstice, that motion stops and then the sun will begin to move south.  A motion that will continue for six months until the sun drops to its lowest point below the equator and then stops — another solstice point — marking the beginning of winter. All hail the sun and summer!

NICE WHILE IT LASTED...

A cold front inched its way east of the Mississippi Wednesday afternoon. In doing so, it touched off widely scattered showers and storms, switched winds to the NW, and brought some relief from the heat and humidity that's plagued the area since Sunday. The front is becoming diffuse and will be difficult to discern Thursday as it washes out and returns north as a warm front by Friday. Its proximity to the region Thursday and Thursday night may spark a few showers and storms, mainly in the NW. With a bit more in the way of sunshine Thursday, highs should warm into the low to mid 80s central and north, while the south remains close to 90.

Rainfall through Thursday night is low confidence due to weak forcing but high levels of moisture. Models are showing that uncertainty with widely varying amounts. One area of consistency is the fact the NW half of my area is the region that sees the bulk of what rain falls.

The EURO

The GFS

The HRRR

The 3k NAM

THE RETURN OF THE HEAT...

Friday and Saturday, southerly flow returns behind a warm front draped over southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Rich moisture makes a rapid surge northward along with another thrust of hot air out ahead of our next front. Highs Friday are expected to reach 90-95. Depending on the strength of the warm air advection, Saturday may even be a couple degrees warmer, with highs inching into the low to mid 90s. Both days the EML (elevated mixed layer) looks strong enough to cap thunderstorm development, allowing a warm dry layer of air aloft through the daytime hours.

Due to the hot, muggy conditions, the NWS shows my area with major risks (level 3 out of 4) of heat related concerns both Friday and Saturday. Take a look. The red column on the left indicates the impacts anticipated with a category 3 risk.

Friday

Saturday

Saturday evening, as the front arrives, the big question is whether the cap breaks, allowing robust thunderstorm development. For now, the jury is still out on the potential pending mesocale developments that remain unknown. At the very least, I do expect scattered storms to occur as the front interacts with the instability generated by Saturday's heat and humidity. Strong to severe storms remain a possibility, especially in the north, and the threat will continue to be monitored in coming days. Additionally, available water vapor is greater than 2 inches, which means any healthy updrafts will have the potential to produce excessive rains of 1–2 inches in a short period of time. The EURO lightning flash rate product indicates significant lightning Saturday evening along the front as it enters my NW counties.

SPC does now show at least a slight risk of severe storms Saturday evening in my far northern counties.

Sunday, the frontal passage eliminates the threat of storms and allows slightly cooler temperatures along with significantly lower humidity by afternoon. A fresh NW breeze will also add some cooling relief. No doubt about it, Sunday will be the best day of the weekend for outdoor activities. Happy Thursday and roll weather...TS

COME ON DOWN. LIVE IT UP AT MY AIRBNB IN GALENA

It's vacation season and 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!

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 work with you to find 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.

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?