Polar Vortex

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Brutally cold wind chills are continuing to grip the Chicago area this week, and warming centers have opened around the region.

With wind chills reaching -40 degrees, frostbite can occur in minutes.

Senior centers, libraries, churches, and community service centers have opened their doors to provide places for people to get warm. Many locations provide meals, and have winter coats and gear available for those in need.

The thick, low-lying cloud bank over Lake Michigan in the background of this photo is a phenomenon known as Arctic Sea Smoke (or steam fog).
​When bone-chilling air moves over the "warmer" lake water (which stays near 32°F until frozen), the water evaporates into the cold air. This vapor immediately condenses into a ghostly, swirling mist.
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​The dark spots are merganzers (ducks) Mergansers have a dual-layer feather system that works much like high-end winter wet suits.

4 mile crib was completed in 1891 to provide cleaner drinking water for the city by drawing from deeper, less polluted parts of Lake Michigan. The heavy steam fog makes it look like a ghost ship!
​You can see the light tower on top, which still serves as a critical navigational aid for ships entering or leaving Chicago's harbors

It's much to cold to be out there taking many pictures.

hive-14396 chicaho winter photography lakemichigan skyline archon pob pimp waiv
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23 comments
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❄️🥶🥶❄️❄️🥶🥶❄️🥶🥶❄️🥶🥶🥶❄️🥶🥶❄️🥶 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

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Yuhh here we reached just -23 at night time but at day time it's still possible to skiing)

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Wonderfully chilly pictures 🥶 my brother went to Northwestern Law School which is downtown. I remember those cold winds coming off the lake when I visited him.

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Some of my coldest memories are from being in that area in January!

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The news coming out of the United States is not good at all. Through friends who are in the east of the country, they say that there are deceased and that, as you say, being on the street is a bad decision. The only ones who tell me they are not cold are those in the state of Florida. Greetings, friend, take good care of yourself.
!ALIVE

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Some pretty extreme weather and it sounds like there is more to come. It's been a cold January, that's for sure!

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It is quite unfortunate cooled weather is not something to joke with please take care of yourselves.

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Cold weather is expected in January, but this is colder than usual.

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I seriously don't think I could withstand that kind of cold; even a slight drop in temperature in the tropics makes me sick, and if I were to get caught in a polar vortex like the one you're describing, it would most likely just kill me.


Image source.

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This is the kind of cold that makes your nose feee shut! I hope it ends soon.

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Whenever it begins to snow, I usually get scared, like is this what I'll face if I eventually make it to the states. 😂 Gosh.

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