Popsugar News Us News Midwest Polar Vortex 2019 Pictures and Videos 21 Absolutely Chilling Scenes From the Polar Vortex Sweeping the Midwest 31 January 2019 by Victoria Messina Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson Bone-chillingly cold weather gripped the Midwest on Jan. 30, as a so-called "polar vortex" caused temperatures to plummet far below the zero-degree mark. The arctic blast led many schools and businesses to close across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and six deaths have been reported so far. People in the affected states are sharing photos and videos on social media as they experience the dangerously frigid weather — see some of the most awe-inspiring scenes below. The Streets of Chicago Were Deserted During the Usual Morning Rush Hour Ghost Town. Not a single soul (pedestrian) on Michigan Avenue at 9:30 on a Wednesday morning. #Chiberia #PolarVortex2019 #ILwx #Chicago pic.twitter.com/ri8Rphjwqx— Mike Hamernik (@MikeHamernik) January 30, 2019 1 / 21 The Chicago River Was Covered in Chunks of Ice Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson 2 / 21 A Boat Had to Break Up Said Chunks Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson 3 / 21 Lake Michigan Was Eerily Foggy Image Source: Getty / JOSHUA LOTT 4 / 21 Snow and Ice Formations Surrounded the Lake Image Source: Getty / JOSHUA LOTT 5 / 21 Just Looking at This Photo of Lake Michigan Has Us Shivering View this post on Instagram #31stbeach #lakemichigan #chicago #chiberia #frozen A post shared by Patrick Yang (@yangpatrick93) on Jan 30, 2019 at 1:41pm PST 6 / 21 People Started Throwing Water in the Air to See How Fast It'd Freeze View this post on Instagram Chicago winter fun. The most fun way to empty a water bottle! #winter #fun #chicago #usa #polarvortex #cold #ice #snow #suburbs #science #kou #vorst #vriezen #sneeuw #america A post shared by Ron (@ron_chicago) on Jan 30, 2019 at 1:45pm PST 7 / 21 People Did It With Pots of Boiling Water, Too View this post on Instagram When -20° (-50° windchill) temps meet boiling water... 💦💨❄️🥶 ___ #donttellmymom #polarvortex #watervapor #Chicago #GideonAkande #wegotgoals #getfitwithgiddy A post shared by Gideon Akande (@getfitwithgiddy) on Jan 30, 2019 at 1:34pm PST 8 / 21 They Did the Same With Hot Coffee, Too View this post on Instagram Do not try this at home (we wouldn’t want you to waste your coffee). #polarvortex A post shared by Maddie & Bella Coffee Roasters (@maddieandbella) on Jan 30, 2019 at 7:15am PST 9 / 21 This Happened . . . Chilly morning in #Chicago #PolarVortex pic.twitter.com/RZjz0sCFe8— Mark Powell (@FrGoose13) January 30, 2019 10 / 21 People Bundled Up to Brave the Cold Image Source: Getty / STEPHEN MATUREN 11 / 21 Some Chicagoans Even Jogged Outside (Making Sure to Cover Their Faces, of Course) Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson 12 / 21 Trees Froze Over, Making For Quite the Interesting Photo Op View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patricia Brugioni (@patriciabrugioni) on Jan 30, 2019 at 1:48pm PST 13 / 21 Doorknobs Froze . . . From the Inside of People's Homes Insane👀👀👀👀 @weatherchannel @accuweather #winterstormjayden #windchillwarning #albertaclipper #Chiberia pic.twitter.com/lXwFBTrrem— Nicholas William Walcott (@big6live) January 30, 2019 14 / 21 Windows Froze From Inside, Too Wanna know how cold it is in #CHICAGO? Check out the ice on the INSIDE of my windows this morning! #PolarVortex STAY WARM! pic.twitter.com/nxjZTdK5l6— Claire Scatter (@ClaireScatter) January 30, 2019 15 / 21 And Glass Doors, as Well View this post on Instagram Be sure to clean the ice off your car windows and the INSIDE OF YOUR HOME WINDOWS too. #chiberia #chiberia2019 #chicago #polarvortex #polarvortex2019 A post shared by Andrew Cole (@andrewcole) on Jan 30, 2019 at 7:35am PST 16 / 21 Yikes! View this post on Instagram Polar vortex. Inside from the 17th floor of a heated building. #pittsburgh #polarvortex2019 #cold #ice #arte #art #photojournalism #pittsburghnews #bbc #bbcgetin #photography #news #polarvortex #ice A post shared by Kp (@kpmarakuya) on Jan 30, 2019 at 2:17pm PST 17 / 21 People Started Freezing Their Clothes, For Whatever Reasons View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donna Dingle (@1girl2boys) on Jan 30, 2019 at 2:10pm PST People Started Freezing Their Pants, For Whatever Reasons 18 / 21 They Wet Their Clothes on a Flat Surface and Then Stuck Them in Snow Once They Froze View this post on Instagram For my next trick I bring to you my frozen pair of pants.🥶 #idothisforthekids #windchillwarning #chicago #frozenpants A post shared by tiffanycollins (@nashlinecreative) on Jan 30, 2019 at 8:24am PST 19 / 21 Here's Another Chilling Look at Lake Michigan View this post on Instagram Lake Michigan when the air temp drops to -16F/-27C #lakemichigan #polarvortex2019 #winter #chicago #natgeo #nofilter #frozen #nikond500 #winterphotography #naturephotography A post shared by ericceddy (@ericceddy) on Jan 30, 2019 at 1:20pm PST 20 / 21 People Resorted to Some Interesting Insulation Techniques We made a breakthrough in insulating techniques this morning. #PolarVortex #Chicago pic.twitter.com/Ljd36JXNZY— Jim Hambleton (@jimhambleton) January 30, 2019 21 / 21 US NewsWeatherSnowWinter