Chicago's Storm of the CenturyGrowing up in Alabama I've seen so many tornadoes that when a friend invited me to see the movie Twister when it debuted I said no thanks, that's like reliving my childhood. I have a healthy respect for tornadoes and the damage they can inflict.
So Monday night I was a little nervous when the wind kicked up and trees started bowing to the ground. Suddenly the most intense lightning, thunder and rain hit with a fury I've never seen before in Chicago. I grabbed my little Mini-Schnauzer Jojo and headed for the lower level. Jojo is as scared of storms as I am and she was quivering and quaking.
Hubby asked where I was going and I told him to the "shelter. " He just laughed. A few minutes later I heard the first tornado warning siren ever in the city. Hubby headed for the basement and said that he'd heard on the news that the safest place was in the center room of the lower level. DUH. Exactly where he found me.
The storm knocked down huge trees all over the city, power to over 200,000 homes and tore off countless rooftops. The lightning strikes numbered over 9,000 and the Tribune said it was the most violent storm of the century. My rain gauge caught 2.5 inches in just an hour or so.
It was just as I feared the next morning -hydrangeas and other flowers took a beating but otherwise my garden was intact and a few trees on the street were trimmed by Mother Nature.
The storm was the closest to a tornado that I've experienced since moving to Chicago. The gale force winds were measured at 90 mph at the Lakefront, giving new meaning to the moniker " Windy City. "
So Monday night I was a little nervous when the wind kicked up and trees started bowing to the ground. Suddenly the most intense lightning, thunder and rain hit with a fury I've never seen before in Chicago. I grabbed my little Mini-Schnauzer Jojo and headed for the lower level. Jojo is as scared of storms as I am and she was quivering and quaking.
Hubby asked where I was going and I told him to the "shelter. " He just laughed. A few minutes later I heard the first tornado warning siren ever in the city. Hubby headed for the basement and said that he'd heard on the news that the safest place was in the center room of the lower level. DUH. Exactly where he found me.
The storm knocked down huge trees all over the city, power to over 200,000 homes and tore off countless rooftops. The lightning strikes numbered over 9,000 and the Tribune said it was the most violent storm of the century. My rain gauge caught 2.5 inches in just an hour or so.
It was just as I feared the next morning -hydrangeas and other flowers took a beating but otherwise my garden was intact and a few trees on the street were trimmed by Mother Nature.
The storm was the closest to a tornado that I've experienced since moving to Chicago. The gale force winds were measured at 90 mph at the Lakefront, giving new meaning to the moniker " Windy City. "
I just can't imagine what these violent storms are like, living in the relative calm of England. But I do respect nature, weather, seas etc and think it is better to be save then sorry. So well done getting to the 'shelter' in plenty of time. I hope the storm has left you plenty of opportunities in the garden!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Sylvia (England)
We had some pretty incredible lightening out of that system too. Our Lilly was terrified during the storm. Glad all is well with you and yours.
ReplyDeleteI remember a thunderstorm in Chicago October 1996. I have never seen rain like that here - well once for a very short time, but back then it rained for hours. Seems like the midwest gets hit by bad thunderstorms these weeks, last week my friends in Iowa got badly hit by a really bad thunderstorm. Seems like the storms gets worse in intensity. Glad to hear your garden made it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sylvia. Your beautiful country has rather good weather as I recall from my visit there.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I was on the phone with one of my daughters who lives near the hardest-hit area in the city. We decided to cut our conversation short when the sirens started going off. It was quite scary. Thank goodness for basements!
ReplyDeleteI did once own a house in the suburbs without a basement for a few years. Never again. . . not in the Chicago metro area, anyway, where tornado warnings and watches are a way of life in the summertime.
I was watching the Cubs game Monday night when a powerful lightning bolt struck. I couldn't believe some fans stayed in their seats! They finally called the game at that point. We have had some terrific storms this year, too. It's particularly sad when old trees are felled by the wind.
ReplyDeleteGlad your garden survived without much damage.
Sensational picture of the lightning bolt! Just visited your fair city and sweltered in the humidity, but so glad the storm didn't come while I was there. Have enjoyed your blog for a few months now.
ReplyDeleteHi Lintys,
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine a house without a basement. A storm cellar is a must have in tornado alley where I grew up and it seems I spent most of my youth in one :)
Thanks, Robin. I'm seriously thinking of giving Jojo a tranquilizer next time.
ReplyDeleteHi Niels and thanks for visiting all the way from Denmark.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose,
ReplyDeleteThose poor Chicago Cub fans ! The lightning was so intense and the wind so strong I don't know how they endured it.
We had a lot of old large trees down in the city.
Thanks, three generations for visiting and commenting.
ReplyDeleteWhoa...as a fellow Southerner I am right WITH YOU when it comes to tornadoes. They're right scary. That's a gorgeous photo, btw. Chicago probably doesn't get many tornadoes, but I imagine winds off that lake can be fierce. Glad you guys are safe and your garden survived intact.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible picture! I would have been SO scared!
ReplyDeletewhen we lived n ohio my first tornado experience was very scary/but then got used to them and thank goodness for basements!
ReplyDeletepoor Jojo, hydrangeas + flowers - your view point is about the cup is always full as things were just 'trimmed' by Mother Nature!