Weather

Weather damage at Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

NPS/Lincoln Home National Historic Site

This region of the Midwest experiences seasonal changes, including intense spring rains, exhausting summer heat and humidity, near-perfect autumn temperatures, and freezing winters.

By far the most dramatic weather feature of this area are the frequent lightning storms of spring and summer. Mary Lincoln was fearful about the lightning storms that were a common occurrence on the prairie in central Illinois. Mr. Lincoln, in an attempt to quell some of Mary's fears, purchased lightning rods like those seen today atop Lincoln Home. These served as a protective measure against the fierce storms.

Today, strong thunderstorms continue to light up the sky and cause damage to the area. In August of 2001, the American Linden tree (next to the Lincoln Home) was hit by a powerful gust of wind, damaging a large portion of the tree and the north portion of the Lincoln Home fence (it just missed the house!). In the Spring of 2002, lightning struck a silver maple in front of the Robinson house in Mr. Lincoln's neighborhood.