THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

When you haven't seen rain in 2 months, which was the case at my place in Dubuque, it looks pretty darn good when it finally shows up. I definitely got my eyes full (as well as my rain gauge) with 3.10 inches at my place along with lightning and thunder. Not far away, on the NW side of town, 3.65 inches was reported. The Dubuque Airport on the south side of town had less, with 2.54", but that was still good enough for the single largest 24 hour rain total of the entire year. Talk about feast or famine. As you can see, the majority of my area had a nice soaker with lots of spots in the 1-3 inch category.

A closer perspective of rain totals from the NWS.

The storm was a wet one for much of the Midwest, especially areas that were in real need of precipitation. This graphic shows rain totals as of early morning Thursday.

For the first time this year, the system had a wintry side as well, with rain changing to snow from NW Iowa into Minnesota and a bit of NW Wisconsin Thursday.

Some of the NW suburbs of Minneapolis saw as much as 4.3 inches of snow, much lighter amounts were found on the SE side of the city.

Behind the storm, strong W/NW winds have been pumping cold air into the Midwest. Friday morning temperatures will be 30–35 degrees colder than what they were 24 hours earlier. The 3k NAM shows this for temperatures around 7:00am. You may recall a couple of days ago, lows Tuesday morning were as warm as 70 in Des Moines. Those days are over!

Friday's highs will be appropriate for the first day of November, mainly in the range of 46-51, despite the addition of sunshine.

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG...

The next 7 days, the mean 500mb jet stream flow will continue to feature a strong trough over the west with a ridge over the east. That puts the Midwest squarely in the crossfire of an active storm track.

I see multiple chances of rain not only in the coming 7 days, but in the following week as well. I think we've just seen the tip of the iceberg as far as wet weather is concerned. Rain totals are going to steadily add up as each system efficiently taps Gulf of Mexico moisture. Details of individual storms and attendant rainfall are hard to see after 4 or 5 days. However, a broad brush approach indicates amounts will be far above normal. Here's what the GFS and EURO are suggesting for rain totals the next 2 weeks ending November 15th. These numbers will fluctuate substantially as models struggle with the placement of various short waves.

The GFS

The EURO

The Weather Prediction Center indicates a slight risk of excessive rain in my southern counties next Monday.

The next wave of energy (and rain) to impact our area is a somewhat prolonged event. With a thermal boundary laid out across the region, ripples of energy will trickle out of the mean trough, producing occasional periods of rain, Saturday night into next Tuesday. Another 1–2 inches of rain (perhaps 3), are possible from this event alone.

That's followed by another disturbnce next weekend and what potentially could be a major system around November 14th. The EURO bangs out a beast that could lay down some hefty snows over the Plains and upper Midwest around that time.

As for temperatures. After the cold start to the weekend Friday, readings are expected to modify again late weekend into next Tuesday. After that, the ensembles of the EURO show more seasonal conditions until that big storm spins by November 14th. If it's as strong as indicated, we could easily be much warmer than the ensembles show November 12-13th. After that, the potential is there for what I would call "wintry" air near the 15th. There's a lot of speculation here, but the pattern is ripe for it.

Before I go, I was handing out some candy to trick or treater last night and noticed my dog Nimbus barking and staring up at the sky. I took a look and was startled to see clouds swirling around in the shape of ghosts. I snapped this shot and then zipped inside to grab Carolyn and show her what I was witnessing. When we came back out, they were gone. Was it just my imagination? Nimbus says no!

Happy November, happy Friday, 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?