Chicago Severe Storms (1/7)

A rather unusual (for January that is) weather setup unfolded across the US Midwest on January 7, 2007 ... The pictures above wer taken as the storm complex (strong and severe thunderstorms) moved through the Chicago area after dark. The Sears tower antenna spires were struck several times! Even more interesting, the picture to the far right shows a rare positive polarity strike - common with winter thunderstorms - branching upwards into the sky.



Apart from lightning and flooding in Chicago, the storm system produced severe storms from Oklahoma to Wisconsin, including damaging tornadoes - most likely the earliest to occur in any given season.

Hard to imagine that just 5 days prior, these same regions were blanketed with snow and frigid arctic air! Chicago had temperatures in the 60's before the storms rolled in.

You can also check out a chase report for this event at the link below...

www.sky-chaser.com/mwcl2008.htm