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Sears Tower Lightning Project
Chicago's famous skyscrapers hit multiple times
July 2006
ABOVE: The Sears Tower and John Hancock Center take multiple lightning strikes during summer storms.
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| HD CHASE VIDEO: Lightning strikes Sears Tower: Watch Video |
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(Video is available from StormScenes.com and in high-definition from StormScenes HD)
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By DAN ROBINSON
Storm Highway Editor/Cameraman |
CHICAGO, IL - One of our planned expeditions this summer was to capture lightning striking Chicago's Sears Tower. The logistics were difficult and challenging. We had to find a sheltered place to park and set up cameras in the busy Windy City after making a last-minute 10-hour drive, then get a storm to move over downtown. We spent many sleepless nights waiting for storms that never arrived, and spent well over $1000 in gas, hotels and parking fees. A particular heartbreak occured when we missed two strikes to the skyscraper by minutes due to security guards kicking us out of one parking garage we were filming from. But after three grueling marathon round-trips from West Virginia to Chicago with gas prices hovering at $3 a gallon, we were blessed with success. Using three video cameras, we ended up with three strikes to the Sears Tower and two strikes to the John Hancock Center.
If you're curious about the hows and whys of lightning striking towers and skyscrapers, you might be interested in our in-depth web article entitled Lightning strikes to TV towers, skyscrapers and other tall structures.
The following are still frame captures from video (click each thumbnail to enlarge).
   
   
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