Chicago’s nickname is about politics, not weather, but the wind is real anyway. In Illinois it is the single factor that decides whether a balloon lasts.
Flat land, few windbreaks
Most of Illinois is open ground. There is very little between a weather system and your parking lot, which means sustained wind rather than occasional gusts.
The rule does not change: over 25 miles per hour in the forecast, bring it in. What changes is how often you will be doing it. Expect more take-down days here than in a sheltered state, and build that into who owns the job.
Lake effect near Chicago
If you are close to the lake, the wind can differ substantially from the regional forecast, and it can change through the day as the lake breeze sets in.
Use a local forecast rather than a regional one, and pay attention to gust figures rather than the average. A 15 mile per hour average with 30 mile per hour gusts is a take-down day.
What this means for the purchase
It does not mean do not buy one. It means be honest about who is going to check the forecast.
If nobody at your business will reliably do that, the balloon will eventually be lost in a storm, and weather loss is not covered by our warranty or anybody else’s. That is not a policy we are hiding; it is the one risk you are taking on.
If you do have that person, an Illinois balloon lasts as long as one anywhere else. Customers report fourteen years.
Where it works
State route commercial strips, auto dealers on the ring roads, seasonal businesses, and anywhere with real drive-past volume and low buildings.
At 120 feet it clears the tree line and the signage clutter, which in flat country means it is visible from a long way indeed. That is the upside of the same geography that brings the wind.
Ask for a quote. Call 1-800-791-1445 or email [email protected] and tell us the size and whether you want it printed.
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