A major winter storm is already sliding into the Midwest, making it downright dangerous to even step outside. Here's what to expect from the oncoming polar vortex.
Temperatures colder than Antarctica: Weather stations around the South Pole showed temperatures around 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, seeing as it's summer down south, per Accuweather. Chicago can expect a potentially record-setting temperature of 15 degrees below zero on Wednesday. Wisconsin's and Minnesota's temperatures are likely to be even lower. Those temperatures, worsened to as low as 50 degrees below zero by intense wind chills, are cold enough to give you hypothermia in less than five minutes, CBS News says. It's all prompted states of emergencies in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
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Hundreds of schools closing: From as far west as North Dakota and on through Buffalo, New York, schools were closed far in advance of Wednesday's weather forecast. Further east, closures mostly stem from an expected two feet of snow. Government buildings and courthouses across the Midwest are already shut down, too. It's even too cold for an ice castle display in Geneva, Illinois, reports ABC7 Chicago.
Flight cancellations: Snow stymied 1,300 flights from Chicago's airports on Monday, and hundreds more were canceled Tuesday morning, per FlightAware.com. A surprising snow in Atlanta also saw 300 flights into and out of the city canceled Tuesday. Georgia's capital is expected to see the most cancellations in the coming days, Fortune writes.
The Super Bowl is still on: It's in Atlanta, but things should be cleared up by then.
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