Summer storms (Chicago, Kansas: apartment, how much, house)

[DogStar5988]

I was wondering if Chicago gets many thunderstorms in the spring and summer. I am a big fan of storms, there is just something about them I really like, so I am hoping a get to see a few when I move down this June/July. Anyway I am just curious. Thanks a lot.

[Chicago60614]

I can post a few videos from youtube...but yes. Chicago gets storms in the summer.

Not all the time, and some summers it seems we only have 2-3 nice storms. I LOVE storms, and last year we had 3-4 pretty good ones, and then the mother of them all on August 4th.

Tornado sirens blasting in the loop, evacuations at Wrigley, over 90,000 lightning strikes. At the height of the storm the metro area was getting blasted by 800 ground strikes every single minute. 10,000 strikes in the central area alone, some of the most concentrated numbers ever recorded anywhere.

[Drover]

Yeah, I'm still blown away by that Cubs/Astros game where the umps waited until a lightning bolt missed Hunter Pence by 4 feet to call the game. The phone-cam footage of the concourse waterfalls recorded by fans riding out the storm in the concourse is unreal.

[Attrill]

There are usually 4 or 5 good storms every summer. Thanks to it's proximity to the lake Chicago proper is pretty safe from tornadoes, but we can get some pretty strong winds.

The one on 8/4 was great. There were huge strikes happening all around our house and the El was blocked by downed tree branches. Our backyard flooded, but our house was fine.

[DogStar5988]

Great. We are luck up here in Upper Michigan if we get 1 or 2 good storms per year. Besides of course the constant snow storms in winter. Here is a picture outside my apartment from one of the good ones. The whole street was flooded and I enjoyed watching the cars trying to get through.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Attrill

There are usually 4 or 5 good storms every summer. Thanks to it's proximity to the lake Chicago proper is pretty safe from tornadoes, but we can get some pretty strong winds.

The one on 8/4 was great. There were huge strikes happening all around our house and the El was blocked by downed tree branches. Our backyard flooded, but our house was fine.

You need a new set of back stairs.
I think a deck would be good as well.

[chknlomein]

I missed the storm in August, but have heard stories. I just moved here on Aug. 31 ,2008, and from what i can rememeber, it was still raining pretty good (and all day) in late October even. You'll catch plenty of storms

[Steve-o]

Chicagoland gets a few good storms every year, no doubt. The one last August topped all, though. Now, dont expect to have storms with the intensity and frequency of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, etc, but rather short, powerful storms that move out just as fast as they move in. They never stick around long it seems.

Anyways, here is one freaky looking one from last summer. All it did was rain for 30 minutes or so, accompanied by some gusty winds, then it cleared out and was followed by a magnificent sunset.

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Chicagoland gets a few good storms every year, no doubt. The one last August topped all, though. Now, dont expect to have storms with the intensity and frequency of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, etc, but rather short, powerful storms that move out just as fast as they move in. They never stick around long it seems.

Anyways, here is one freaky looking one from last summer. All it did was rain for 30 minutes or so, accompanied by some gusty winds, then it cleared out and was followed by a magnificent sunset.

Those storms terrify me, and they make me realize how much I do not trust clouds.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

You need a new set of back stairs.
I think a deck would be good as well.

Oh yeah. The house is brick but it has that crappy old porch on the back that someone tacked on in the 30's, and then someone enclosed it in the 70's. It's basically storage. The whole thing is coming down this spring, we're building a 2 story addition in it's place.

Don't knock the stairs tho', I built those out of the remnants of the deck that collapsed the first time I stepped onto it. Took about 10 minutes to build and after 5 years they're still looking good! (actually, they may be the most solid thing in that photo)