The strange beauty of the polar vortex | The Week

Captured vortex

By Sarah Eberspacher

last updated 8 January 2015

Lake Michigan, Milwaukee. | (Photo courtesy Jennell Jenney / jennelljenney/Flickr)

Lake Michigan, Chicago. | (Photo courtesy sarah-ji / sierraromeo [sarah-ji]/Flickr)

Birchwood, Chicago. | (Photo courtesy Kev / WesternBuddha/Flickr)

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Lake Michigan, Chicago. | (Photo courtesy David Fleming / DBF Chicago/Flickr)

Montreal. | (Photo courtesy Michael Vesia / Michael Vesia/Flickr)

Chicago. | (Photo courtesy Edward Stojakovic / akasped/Flickr)

Northpoint, Milwaukee. | (Photo courtesy morningnettle / morningnettle/Flickr)

(Photo courtesy Mike & Molly / Rambling Vegans/Flickr)

Chicago. | (Photo courtesy Ross Images / Rasidel Slika/Flickr)

Lake Michigan, Chicago. | (Photo courtesy Javier Ayala / Hello ChateauHo/Flickr)

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.