At around 5pm Monday, tornado sirens whined throughout Chicago and bounced forebodingly off the skyscrapers downtown.

Even if you didn't know what message the strange warbling was supposed to convey, the experience was terrifying. Office workers (including us) fled down stairwells into basements. Those caught outside dashed through the thick sheets of rain blasting down in wet bullets from the dark sky. People stuck in cabs waited as the wailing told them to go inside.

Nonetheless, Chicagoans still found time to share photos and video of their experience. The worst seems to be over now, but if this spring is any indication, or last summer's derecho, freak weather events are far from over.

A photo posted by @madisonloew on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:22pm PDT

A video posted by Nara Kim (@babypnara) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:35pm PDT

A photo posted by Joe Donegan (@unscop) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:24pm PDT

A video posted by Ben Rutledge (@benrut1) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:22pm PDT

A photo posted by @madisonloew on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:22pm PDT

A video posted by Alesha Bales (@alesha_bales) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:24pm PDT

A photo posted by leyla a. (@leylaruinseverything) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:32pm PDT

A video posted by Aaron Pagel (@pagelman) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:31pm PDT

A photo posted by @eejunks on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:31pm PDT

A video posted by LG (@linetteg.photography) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:32pm PDT

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