ADVERTISEMENT

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

Add photo comments
POST
heavensfeather avatar
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

ADVERTISEMENT
#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

Add photo comments
POST
lyviadaleaf avatar
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

ADVERTISEMENT
#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

Add photo comments
POST
copper-fractions avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

Add photo comments
POST
alexcannoneer97 avatar
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*

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#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

Add photo comments
POST
jillvillechildcare avatar
cjoharpole avatar
paul_white_5623 avatar
Paul White
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess you can see where you need to reinsulate the walls come spring

trishrusness avatar
Trish Jordet
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I know the owner of this place. It's not poorly built, it's just an old home. We have a lot of old homes around here-they are beautiful but when they are that old they get cold and drafty!! They need to re-insulate for sure ;)

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

Living in Switzerland for the past 48 years and have lived through winters of minus 15 to 20 F, I’ve never had my toilet frozen over, nor had my walls freeze nor had to for some odd reason turn off my central heating. Why is happening that this weather has so many awful conception in the USA, what about Canada ?

monikah_wiseman avatar
Monikah Peetsma
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in Canada and none of those things have happened to me either. I also live in a city with regular -15 to -25 F temps.

Load More Replies...
alfredyoungman avatar
Idiotnews
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The houses in Chicago just failed their first major environmental test. Anthropology got it all wrong, makes one realize just how much more intelligent Eskimos are using snow and sealskins as insulators! Nanook! Where are you when we need you?

danusia-stawarz avatar
Danuta Starwars
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember the wall in my room froze like that once when it was minus 20 in Poland;)

runwaypost avatar
Runway Post
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anyone from normal Europe saw how those yanks build their houses, you would never be surprised to see this. The biggest piece of c**p construction is in America. Let it stay there!

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spend some money on proper insulation, it will save you money during the summer as well.

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

Luckily the weather is showing you that you have damp in your house. Get that fixed or enjoy rotting walls.

barborakopalova avatar
Barbora Kopalova
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't be surprised. No hate, but America has, like we call it, paper houses.

abroadtravelsabroad avatar
Sharon Attwood
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes it easier to find those places where your heat leaks out...get the caulking gun out!

sonjaschoppenhauer avatar
Sonja Schoppenhauer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Broken steam-seiling. Typical construction failure that destroys your house over the time.

pandabean1 avatar
Amanda Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sooooo happy we got our new windows this past November!

griffinx avatar
Adrienne Early
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My house does this sometimes, it doesn't even have to be much below 0. Humid house and the house is built 12" beyond the foundation, and needs more insulation under the cantilever.

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

Unbelievable how poorly houses are built in the USA. Here in some place in Europe this sort of thing don’t happen, as the house are made to resist to the freezing weather.

moconnell avatar
M O'Connell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you really assume this house was like this the moment the builder completed it? Or could it possibly have developed these problems over the course of 70 years or so?

Load More Replies...
andrei_haragus avatar
Andrei Haragus
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or just a poorly built house that fails when you most need it...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

The Beauty The Cold Brings To South Dakota

The Beauty The Cold Brings To South Dakota

chinho321 Report

Add photo comments
POST
patriciaross avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

Add photo comments
POST
copper-fractions avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#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

Add photo comments
POST
cjoharpole avatar
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

Add photo comments
POST
ilovethebacon avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

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

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

ShakesPic Report

Add photo comments
POST
alexcannoneer97 avatar
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!"

View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

Add photo comments
POST
valif_ avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

Add photo comments
POST
claudiastieble avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#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

Add photo comments
POST
vladhorobet avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

So My Soap Is Frozen In My Shower

So My Soap Is Frozen In My Shower

wowmartiean Report

Add photo comments
POST
diane1atk avatar
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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

Add photo comments
POST
meinespammailadresse1 avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu