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Extreme weather events are becoming more and more common, with records shattered down under during Australia's recent heatwave, and now, at the opposite end of the spectrum, the 'polar vortex' turning Midwestern U.S. into a winter wonderland.

The polar vortex is a band of strong winds, high up in the atmosphere that keeps bitterly cold winter season air locked around the Arctic region. Sometimes, like this year, it can drift further south than usual and envelop highly populated areas of North America. Chigaco has been particularly hard hit, with its notoriously windy location on Lake Michigan bringing freezing temperatures down to record-breaking lows.

With much of the Midwest on lockdown and people urged to stay indoors, some people have been braving the winter landscapes to take incredible images of the effects that the extremely cold weather is having on their daily lives. From exploding toilets to icy hairstyles, this list compiled by Bored Panda will give you chills just from looking at it!

#1

How Cold Is It In The Midwest? Bubbles Are Freezing

How Cold Is It In The Midwest? Bubbles Are Freezing

BiologistDan Report

#2

My Brother Was On One Of The Few Flights Into Chicago This Morning. He Took This Photo Of Frozen Lake Michigan From The Plane

My Brother Was On One Of The Few Flights Into Chicago This Morning. He Took This Photo Of Frozen Lake Michigan From The Plane

DavidPFunk Report

#3

After Two Days Of Freezing Rain, This Mold Came Out

After Two Days Of Freezing Rain, This Mold Came Out

sprgsmnt Report

#4

Meanwhile In Minnesota. The Tank Exploded

Meanwhile In Minnesota. The Tank Exploded

David Hildebrand Report

#5

My Sister Opened Her Car Door In Chicago

My Sister Opened Her Car Door In Chicago

PerkyMooseTits Report

#6

A Firefighter After Working In The -40° Polar Vortex

A Firefighter After Working In The -40° Polar Vortex

crowntownfrown Report

#7

My God. We've Reached The Day After Tomorrow

My God. We've Reached The Day After Tomorrow

Jacopo_della_Q Report

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Ashley Kirk
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best part? Our fearless leader tweets how this cold disproves global warming. Ughhhhhh

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#8

Trying To Make The Most Of This -40 F Weather

Trying To Make The Most Of This -40 F Weather

Mapes Report

#9

Lunch In Chicago Today. I Like Mine Al Dente

Lunch In Chicago Today. I Like Mine Al Dente

supercatpuke Report

#10

“Is Iowa Really That Cold?”

“Is Iowa Really That Cold?”

taylor_scallon Report

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#11

Current Level Of Snow In Madison: One Whole Mingo

Current Level Of Snow In Madison: One Whole Mingo

ForwardMSNFC , ForwardMSNFC Report

#12

Pray For The Homeless During This Time! Give To Your Local Shelters. Most Are At Full Capacity

Pray For The Homeless During This Time! Give To Your Local Shelters. Most Are At Full Capacity

OMAROSA Report

#13

It's So Cold In Chicago They Set Commuter Train Tracks On Fire To Warm Them

It's So Cold In Chicago They Set Commuter Train Tracks On Fire To Warm Them

metrarail Report

#14

It's So Cold In Iowa That We Froze Antifreeze

It's So Cold In Iowa That We Froze Antifreeze

Stonedspidey Report

#15

Eye Lashes On Fleek! Is That A Thing? Is This The New Winter Running Fashion Statement?

Eye Lashes On Fleek! Is That A Thing? Is This The New Winter Running Fashion Statement?

mayrenaisamar Report

#16

What Happens When You Blow Bubbles In A Freezing Weather

What Happens When You Blow Bubbles In A Freezing Weather

cbotnyse Report

#17

Meanwhile In Wisconsin

Meanwhile In Wisconsin

atlastifoundit Report

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Lef
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

imagine wanting to take a poop then finding that your toilet is practically a snow sculpture

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#18

Freezing Our Pants Off In Minnesota

Freezing Our Pants Off In Minnesota

gregswan Report

#19

When These Are The Inside Doors... You Know We Are Polar Vortexing

When These Are The Inside Doors... You Know We Are Polar Vortexing

HeidiMiler Report

#20

Cadillac Michigan The Light Poles Are Shivering. Science Mannn

Cadillac Michigan The Light Poles Are Shivering. Science Mannn

GordonsWord Report

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#21

Landlord Decided To Turn Down The Heat Today In My MN Apartment As It Reached -40°

Landlord Decided To Turn Down The Heat Today In My MN Apartment As It Reached -40°

The idiot must have forgotten he pays my electric and doesn't realize that I value my comfort over safety or energy conservation.

JohannReddit Report

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if you have human rights in America (not many, anyway) but you should be able to prosecute him for that.

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#22

Going To Daycare When It's -30 Outside

Going To Daycare When It's -30 Outside

Stweets19 Report

#23

Frozen Chicken Eggs

Frozen Chicken Eggs

afrwvus Report

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олександра пушкар
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! That looks amazing! Imagine laying it on the frying pan and watching it melt. *went to put eggs outside*

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#24

You Know It's Cold When The Toilet Paper Is Frozen In The Outhouse

You Know It's Cold When The Toilet Paper Is Frozen In The Outhouse

Linda Mooney Report

#25

The Detroit River, Frozen All The Way To Canada

The Detroit River, Frozen All The Way To Canada

Jay_Z_123 Report

#26

Got So Cold Last Night That Our Vodka Froze! For Reference The Freezing Point For Vodka Is -16

Got So Cold Last Night That Our Vodka Froze! For Reference The Freezing Point For Vodka Is -16

KKrilanovichCRE Report

#27

We Had A House Fire South Of Cameron Today. Our Chief Mitch Hansen Thought It Was A Splash Park

We Had A House Fire South Of Cameron Today. Our Chief Mitch Hansen Thought It Was A Splash Park

Bimbo Gifford Report

#29

Letting My Car Heat Up During The Polar Vortex

Letting My Car Heat Up During The Polar Vortex

ahhbeeli Report

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#30

House Is Freezing From The Inside During The Coldest Day In A Decade

House Is Freezing From The Inside During The Coldest Day In A Decade

Nayb3n Report

#31

The Beauty The Cold Brings To South Dakota

The Beauty The Cold Brings To South Dakota

chinho321 Report

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tuzdayschild
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in southeast Virginia. I can't even wrap my mind around most of these pics.

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#32

This Flash-Frozen Fire Hydrant

This Flash-Frozen Fire Hydrant

kasprzee Report

#34

A Sheet Of Ice Formed Between The Glass Panes Of This Door

A Sheet Of Ice Formed Between The Glass Panes Of This Door

sadpinata Report

#35

Polar Vortex Lesson: Don’t Try To Hang Dry Your Clothes Outside

Polar Vortex Lesson: Don’t Try To Hang Dry Your Clothes Outside

eharrisment Report

#36

Polar Vortex (Temp. 16 F /-9 C)

Polar Vortex (Temp. 16 F /-9 C)

ahuewnyc Report

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for telling us a temperature that the rest of the world actually uses.

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#37

My Parents Sent Me This Pic Of Our Peephole (From The Indoor Side)

My Parents Sent Me This Pic Of Our Peephole (From The Indoor Side)

imayoras Report

#38

My Neighbor’s Furnace Exhaust Is Creating An Interesting Icicle

My Neighbor’s Furnace Exhaust Is Creating An Interesting Icicle

nonnahinnor Report

#39

One Cold Rowdy Dog On The Bulkhead. Still Looking For Leftover Canteen Snacks

One Cold Rowdy Dog On The Bulkhead. Still Looking For Leftover Canteen Snacks

gorgonzolabee Report

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#40

I Just Wanted To See How Long It Would Take For An Egg To Freeze Outside And Also What Would Become Of My Egg

I Just Wanted To See How Long It Would Take For An Egg To Freeze Outside And Also What Would Become Of My Egg

Lauren Yapalater Report

#41

Cold Spell

Cold Spell

Yes, that is ice on the inside of our house. It's not the first time that ice has formed around our door. We've talked to our landlord and hope to get a new door and door frame in spring when we don't have to worry about getting frostbite about people outside for five minutes. It would really help with our utility bill as well.

ferrari1996 Report

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2-10-11
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A blanket tacked over the door would probably be as efficient and easier to maintain

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#42

It Was So Cold In Chicago That The Paint Came Off My Car

It Was So Cold In Chicago That The Paint Came Off My Car

imgur.com Report

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Roger Haywood
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's probably down to a bad paint job. I'm sure it's supposed to last even in sub zero conditions.

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#43

"No, Believe Me, 'Tis Very Cold; The Wind Is Northerly"

"No, Believe Me, 'Tis Very Cold; The Wind Is Northerly"

ShakesPic Report

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олександра пушкар
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like these jeans are having a conversation. "Check it out, guys, I froze in such a funny position!"

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#44

Ice Is Freezing As Soon As It Comes Out Of Our Faucet Because It's So Cold

Ice Is Freezing As Soon As It Comes Out Of Our Faucet Because It's So Cold

mak_savi Report

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Vali F.
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1. water is freezein, not ice. ice is already frozen. 2. i think it is fake, oterwise the water drops around would be frozen also.

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#45

This Is My Buddy Jesse At The Arrowhead 135 In Mn Yesterday. Day Time Temp Was -26 °F

This Is My Buddy Jesse At The Arrowhead 135 In Mn Yesterday. Day Time Temp Was -26 °F

hivehivebuzzbuzz Report

#46

In A Matter Of 2 Minutes Walking Across Campus, My Glasses Started To Frost/Ice Over

In A Matter Of 2 Minutes Walking Across Campus, My Glasses Started To Frost/Ice Over

Everyone’s been talking about how cold Chicago is right now. The upper Midwest (I’m talking Fargo area) had windchills up to -60 below zero, ten degrees colder than Chicago. In a matter of 2 minutes walking across campus, my glasses started to frost/ice over.

kmbell333 Report

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Claudia Stieble
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last winter I drove my bicycle to work and had to stop after 10 minutes because my glasses were covered with frost patterns, they looked beautiful but I couldn't see anything at all. It was only -14°C that morning.

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#47

My Wall Is Freezing In My Bedroom. There Are No Pipes Behind It. Chicago

My Wall Is Freezing In My Bedroom. There Are No Pipes Behind It. Chicago

creampuffyness Report

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Vlad Horobet
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As I know, most of the houses in America are built on wooden frame, with some isolation foam between wooden planks inside and outside. At the corners either is a slim wooden pole either the isolation is not well connected. Either way, this is bad in the future, the humidity and the wood don't mix well over long periods of time.

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#48

So My Soap Is Frozen In My Shower

So My Soap Is Frozen In My Shower

wowmartiean Report

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diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who's even mad enough to attempt a shower in that cold - even if the pipes weren't frozen solid

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#49

It's So Cold Here In Iowa That There Is Now Frost On The Inside Of My Door Hinges

It's So Cold Here In Iowa That There Is Now Frost On The Inside Of My Door Hinges

TheMadCatterFTW Report

#50

My Beard Froze While Waiting Bus. I Wish It Would Be Summer Already

My Beard Froze While Waiting Bus. I Wish It Would Be Summer Already

Volus_dude Report

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A B C
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jeez, that guy could really use a razor. Or at least some shears.

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