Chicago Storm Northside 8/4/2008

[@ntcrwler]

Thank you for posting this. We lived in Elmwood Park at the time and this is exactly how I remember it. We were having supper, we heard some thunder in the distance. then the sirens went off. We couldn't understand why. Then we saw it. It was absolutely terrifying. The intensity unbelievable. The sky went absolutely mad. Killer rain, killer winds, and lightning so full of rage

[@willseitmanmusic]

yep i'm at 5300 N and 6000 W and this is how I remember this too.

[@MrStundon1]

Wow I remember this storm like it was yesterday. I am not from the US but I was actually in Florida at the time. I had a previous traumatic experience with lightning which started my interest in weather and storms. I was in a house that was struck by lightning many years ago in Florida. The airconditioning exploded and the house was set on fire. With regards to this storm in Chicago, I later discovered that this was a mesoscale convective system (mcs) which started in Iowa and then raced through northern Illinois into northwest Indianna. The meteorological conditions that existed prior to the storm were extraordinary, even for US standards. CAPE values which is a measure of the instability in the atmosphere were as high as 5500 j/kg, in some places as high as 6000 j/kg, and dewpoints in the 80S. All ahead of a stationary front on the northern ridge of a high pressure system and a powerful jetstream. I’ve been told that this type of storm is more a kin to the storms they get in malaysia and singapore, and not Chicago. I am aware that mesoscale convective systems are common in this region, but I just wonder how common a storm as intense as the august 4 2008 event is. I also know that Florida is the lightning capital of the US, but I would imagine even in Florida it is rare to get an august 4 2008 storm. Furthermore most of florida’s storms in summer are the sea breeze types and not the massive mesoscale convective systems that move through the midwest and great lakes. You certainly don’t see CAPE values over 6000 j/kg everyday! Even seasoned meteorologists at the time said they had never seen anything like it in Chicago. As someone who doesn’t like thunderstorms i’m glad I didn’t eperience this one.

[@mrcinemajunky]

I was on Kimball and Diversey during this storm. I posted a 3 part video on another channel. I remember the Cubs were playing that night.

[@Randoman35]

They lost to the Astros 2 - 0.

[@kxmmillienzillien8871]

This storm everybody has been talking about was basically a large microburst. The in June 30 2011 was a hailstorm

[@aaronbrown2448]

I miss being 7 years old.

[@trevordank5976]

This 2018 we just had a stom just like this just now

[@jamesjay8281]

Now, that is a storm

[@starguard4122]

Believe it or not, I can actually remember this storm

[@czechking]

My brother stayed at Park Place, on Irving at the time and on the 25th floor it was total blackness.

[@cameronhenningsen2823]

how come i did not here the Chicago sirens

[@danieltaz6555]

I had a tree fall on my 2003 Silverado 1500 that I bought brand new age 20 in sept 2002 during that storm crushing the cab and frame

[@J4yd3nlie]

That’s when I was born

[@jni13o]

I lost power for 10 hours...it sucked. But I dont think it was bad as the 2007 storm.

[@Randoman35]

I like what you did at 1:05.

[@RobloxGamingCorner]

Cool transition from the forecast to the actual storm

[@shawnpatrick5843]

Awesome

[@jamorriswebber7389]

that wind gust had to be on verge 80 mph

[@McAwesome363]

i remember this :)

[@White_sox_fan]

I actually don't remember this

[@ColleenChang2changz]

omg, i wuz like freaking out, haha

[@SlowedByCinnamxn]

THIS IS LITERALLY A HURRICANE IN CHICAGO!!!!

[@Kimtwister]

ID SAY THIS WAS A MICROBURST