[Yahoo! News}- A blast of super cold Arctic air known as a “polar vortex” is whipping through the Midwest this week, freezing over lakes and cityscapes and creating life-threatening conditions for residents.
Wind chill temperatures on Wednesday were expected to drop to as low as -60 in Minnesota and -50 degrees in Illinois, prompting school districts to cancel classes and the U.S. Postal Service to suspend deliveries in some areas.
The historic deep freeze has transformed the Midwest into a deadly winter wonderland.
Check out some of the most bone-chilling photos below:
PHOTO: People enjoy at the Lake Michigan at 31st Street Harbor, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago. (AP)
PHOTO: A harbor light is covered by snow and ice on the Lake Michigan at 39th Street Harbor, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago. (AP)
PHOTO: A warning sign is covered by ice at Clark Square park in Evanston, Ill., Jan. 30, 2019. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
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(Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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The Chicago River is full of ice, with more cold weather on the way. (Yahoo! News)
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