TRANSITION TIME...

Since Sunday, the Midwest has been in the crossfire of a hot, humid air mass and periods of thunderstorms that fired on its northern edge. Varying degrees of heat have occurred due to the rain cooled air and cloud cover associated with the storms. Wednesday was more on the sticky side thanks to ample sunshine in the afternoon following scattered morning convection. This pattern has shown little movement, and the end result has been a band of excessive rainfall that has saturated much of central into far SE Iowa. Training of storms has resulted in a swath of 4-8 inch rains. Some local spots show 3-day totals as much as 9–10 inches.

Through Wednesday, the majority of my area aside from the far south kept rainfall manageable in the 1/4 to 1.5 inch range. Conditions overnight and again late Thursday are somewhat more favorable for more of my region to get in on rain and storms, thanks to an upper air low that digs southeast across the region. You can watch the energy as it twirls from Minnesota Wednesday night to southern Illinois Friday.

Two waves of vorticity have or will create thunderstorms. The first reached its greatest strength in central Iowa Wednesday evening. It produced an active squall line that's rolled east overnight, producing numerous severe thunderstorm warnings in central Iowa. The bowing feature has also produced wind gusts up to 60mph+ in that area. The infra-red satellite image shows the cold cloud tops reaching heights of 45-50,000 ft. The higher the storm, the stronger it is likely to be. There is a direct correlation between height and intensity.

On this view, you can see the shadows cast to the east of the anvils as the sun sets.

The line plowed east, entering my western counties before midnight. By then, the low level jet and forcing was not sufficient to support strong storms, and they quickly weakened to sub-severe limits. Despite ample low level moisture, the progressive nature of the storms kept rainfall amounts contained, considering the amount of low level moisture. A few places experienced amounts of an inch or more, but in general totals were 1/2 inch or significantly less.

The line looked like this on the 3k NAM before it faltered closer to the Mississippi before midnight.

Thursday morning pokes of sunshine return with dew points in the low to mid 70s. Rapid heating will send temperatures back into the 80s. The resulting instability will set the stage for additional showers and storms in the afternoon as another lobe of energy rotates SE around the passing upper air low. These are not likely to be severe, but a few could generate some additional downpours. With the cool pocket aloft still in the area, a few more showers are possible into Friday morning, but they should be widely scattered and mainly confined to my counties east of the Mississippi. Here's what models are suggesting for rainfall from overnight storms and what falls additionally Thursday and Friday. In all honesty, considering the potential, we get out of this in pretty good shape considering the rains observed just to the west.

The EURO

The GFS

It appears the central Midwest will be in between storms this weekend as high pressure makes a welcome appearance. No rain is expected, but temperatures will be warm. Highs in the mid to upper 80s are on the table. About what you would expect for the first weekend of August. Rain chances are back on the burner early next week as another disturbances rumbles in from the Plains. Chances are greatest in the north if models hold.

That's the way I see for now. Have a stellar day and as always, roll weather...TS

PEOPLE LOVE IT. 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?