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77 below zero? Polar vortex yields deadly cold as thousands endure power cuts, travel issues mount in Midwest

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Long-standing records are being broken as the polar vortex sends extremely cold air into midwestern and northeastern United States to end January.

States of emergency have been issued in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan due to the extreme cold with many schools and businesses closing until the frigid air loosens its grip on the region later this week.

At least eight fatalities have been attributed to the cold, the Associated Press reports.

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Commuters braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Commuters braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In addition to the bone-chilling cold, a biting wind will send AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to even lower levels.

The deep freeze has a firm grip on the Upper Midwest with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 77 degrees below zero Fahrenheit reported at Thief River Falls, Minnesota, on Tuesday evening.

Values this low can cause frostbite on exposed skin in a matter of minutes.

Polar vortex brings freezing conditions to Midwest

AP Photo/Garret Fischer” data-reactid=”35″>AP Photo/Garret Fischer

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(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Ice covers the Chicago River Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures triggering widespread closures of schools and businesses.

(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Chicago’s lakefront is covered with ice on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Temperatures are plummeting in Chicago as officials warn against venturing out into the dangerously cold weather.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

A person walks along the lakeshore, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois.

Dan Eidsmoe

As the polar vortex sent extreme cold to the Midwest, Lake Michigan turned icy on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo/Dan Eidsmoe)

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan before sunrise, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan before sunrise, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago., Illinois.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan before sunrise, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

A man poses for a picture as ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

A Metra train moves southbound to downtown Chicago as the gas-fired switch heater on the rails keeps the ice and snow off the switches near Metra Western Avenue station in Chicago, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

A Metra train moves southbound to downtown Chicago as the gas-fired switch heater on the rails keeps the ice and snow off the switches near Metra Western Avenue station in Chicago, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019.

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

A worker shovels snow off the rail switches at the Metra Western Avenue Yard, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Chicago.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A warning sign is covered by ice at Clark Square park in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.

(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Geese huddle in the water as the sun rises at the harbor in Port Washington, Wis., on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures.

(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

First responders evacuate a person found in sub-freezing temperatures on the banks of Carter Lake, in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A tree is shrouded in fog at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.

(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Pedestrians bundle up in sub-freezing temperatures on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Jan. 30. An arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures.

(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

University of Nebraska students sip complementary hot chocolate as they wait in freezing temperatures to be admitted to Pinnacle Bank Arena for an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Commuters braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati. The extreme cold and record-breaking temperatures are crawling into a swath of states spanning from North Dakota to Missouri and into Ohio.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Commuters braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Commuters braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A commuter braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Commuters braves the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati. The extreme cold and record-breaking temperatures are crawling into a swath of states spanning from North Dakota to Missouri and into Ohio after a powerful snowstorm pounded the region earlier this week.

(AP Photo/Bruce Crummy)

Moorhead, Minn. area elementary school electronic sign shows cancellation of school because of frigid temperature Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. Daytime temperatures in the Fargo-Moorhead area were near -20F as Wednesday weather will be even colder.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A bank shows a closed sign in front of the door in Northbrook, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Traffic moves along Milwaukee avenue in Wheeling, Ill. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. A deadly arctic deep freeze enveloped the Midwest with record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday.

Dan Eidsmoe

Streets were emptier than normal in Chicago as dangerous cold descended upon the city on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.

Dan Eidsmoe

Steam rose off of Lake Michigan amid the intense cold on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.

There are more than 2,600 flight cancellations in the U.S. today, including more than 1,400 at Chicago’s O’Hare Internatinal Airport, according to FlightAware.

Dozens of people have been sent to hospitals in Minnesota as a result of the extreme cold. According to the AP, Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis has treated 22 patients for frostbite since Friday.

Many schools remain closed on Thursday, including around Minneapolis and St. Paul.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures have dipped to 10-30 below zero F across the interior Northeast early this morning. State College, Pennsylvania, recorded a RealFeel Temperature as low as 31 below zero.

Thurs RF Jan 30

Pittsburgh has already broken its record low temperature for the date of minus 3 F from 1971, with a current temperature of minus 5.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested that residents in the lower peninsula turn down thermostats to 65 F or lower to curb energy usage, according to WLNS-TV. The request comes in the wake of a fire at the Ray Compressor Station on Wednesday morning.

General Motors has suspended and canceled several shift operations at the request of Consumers Energy. This will “allow the utility to manage supply issues brought on by the extreme temperatures and equipment issues,” WLNS-TV stated.

The current temperature is minus 20 F in Minneapolis, and temperatures will continue to plummet through the overnight. The daily record low of minus 27 set in 1887 will be in jeopardy.

Chicago has already broken its daily record low of minus 12 set in 1985, with a current temperature of minus 18. The city has a chance of breaking its all-time record low of minus 27 F, set on Jan. 20, 1985.

Consumers’ Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station CEO turned to Facebook to issue an urgent plea to customers in Michigan to reduce their thermostats as much as possible in wake of a facility fire.

There is a Snow Squall Warning in effect until 7:15 p.m. EST that includes the Boston metro area.

White-out conditions with visibility as low as ¼ mile along with wind gusts as high as 50 mph are possible.

The body of a University of Iowa student has been found on the campus in Iowa City, and officials say they believe his death was weather-related.

Television station KCRG reports that the body of 18-year-old Gerald Belz was found behind an academic hall shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday by campus police.

According to AP News, Belz was taken to a hospital, where he died. While officials believe his death was related to dangerously low temperatures at the time he was found, officials have not given a specific cause of death.

Two counties in upstate New York have ordered drivers to stay off the roads due to drifting and blowing snow causing unsafe conditions.

The ban means all drivers, except emergency personnel, are to stay off roads.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday around 2:45 p.m. EST that a travel ban has been put in place, effectively immediately.

A travel ban was also issued in Erie County on Wednesday afternoon for multiple towns.

To see if your town is effected by the travel ban click here.

Power outages continue to wreak havoc across Illinois and other areas across the Midwest.

We put our energy into working around the clock to get your power back on! We’re down to under 4k customers without service & 500+ crews continue to work as quickly & safely as possible to restore power to our hardest hit areas. Stay safe & tweet #OUT @ComEd to report outages. pic.twitter.com/VqbyLAe1DS

— ComEd (@ComEd) January 30, 2019

An 82-year-old central Illinois man has died in the frigid weather, bringing the death toll from the extreme cold in the Midwest to seven. Authorities say he was found several hours after he fell trying to get into his home, AP News reports.

A neighbor found the man Tuesday afternoon and called 911. The man was pronounced dead later Tuesday, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said to the (Peoria) Journal Star.

The man’s cause of death was related to cold exposure. He wasn’t immediately identified pending notification of family.

Dangerous travel conditions are developing in New York and Pennsylvania and spreading into densely populated cities Philadelphia and New York City.

NWS issued snow squall warnings that include Philadelphia and areas just west of New York City. A narrow band of snow associated with an Arctic front will be pushing through the area over the next couple of hours.

Accidents have been reported throughout western New York and western Pennsylvania through Wednesday afternoon.

The #PolarVortex bringing extreme and dangerous cold and snow is on its way. Preparation is everything.

We have pre-deployed personnel and equipment throughout upstate and will continue to do so. pic.twitter.com/PhvpDGYlpH

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 30, 2019

The city of Buffalo, New York, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday afternoon.

“Please no unnecessary travel, this storm can shift at any moment & the sub zero temperatures make it hazardous,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in a tweet.

According to the New York Department of Transportation, all lanes on the I-390 Southbound between Brooks Avenue and East Henrietta Road in Gates are closed due to an accident.

Traffic backed up on 390S beyond Chili Ave. 390 closed between Brooks Ave and Scottsville Road after whiteout conditions caused a crash. Visability on 490w and 390s is not good. @news10nbc pic.twitter.com/mJsXv3voZv

— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) January 30, 2019

Pipe bursts, home floods then freezes at Columbia and East 105 in Cleveland. @cleveland19news pic.twitter.com/h79kpC62OV

— Chris Reymann (@reymannchristop) January 30, 2019

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz declared a State of Emergency for Erie County due to the weather, as well as a travel ban that will be effective until 1:00 p.m. local time.

” data-reactid=”592″>”All travel is prohibited. All cars must leave roads,” Poloncarz tweeted.

Based on the Blizzard I have extended the travel ban to the towns of Alden, Aurora and Marilla and villages contained therein. Therefore a ban exists in Alden, Aurora, Brant, Eden, Elma, Evans, Hamburg, Marilla, North Collins and Orchard Park and all villages in those towns. pic.twitter.com/DidVtpNFxH

— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) January 30, 2019

Police say at least two people in the Detroit area have died in the extremely cold weather, AP News reports.

Ecorse detective Tim Sassak tells TV station WDIV that the man was discovered Wednesday. The man wasn’t dressed for below-zero temperatures and wasn’t wearing a hat or gloves, according to Sassak.

Sassak says police believe the man was disoriented. He was found across the street, near a neighbor’s house. Ecorse is located about 15 miles southwest of Detroit.

A 70-year-old man was found dead in front of a neighbor’s home Wednesday in Detroit. No names were released.

Including these deaths, there have been at least six fatalities linked to the extremely cold temperatures in the Midwest.

The New York City Emergency Management Department issued a hazardous travel advisory for the Wednesday afternoon commute.

“New Yorkers should plan for hazardous travel during the evening commute and are advised to take mass transit where possible, delay travel or safely exit highways or roadways before the snow squall arrives,” the press release reads.

The advisory was prompted by a NWS Special Weather Statement for a line of snow showers and possible snow squalls in effect for New York City Wednesday afternoon, as an arctic cold front passes through the region. A line of snow showers and potentially squalls will last around 30 minutes to 1 hour will accompany this front.

” data-reactid=”604″>”This intense burst of snowfall combined with strong wind gusts may cause brief whiteout conditions, limiting visibility and making travel extremely dangerous,” the press release reads.

NYC Emergency Management Issues Hazardous Travel Advisory for Wednesday Afternoon Commute

Read the press release: https://t.co/ja4kmp5XP0

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) January 30, 2019

Due to the extreme cold weather in Chicago, air carriers at O’Hare International Airport have canceled nearly 1,335 flights and have reported minimal delays.

“Check flight status with carrier. Stay safe and warm friends,” the airport said in a tweet.

More than 1,600 flights have been canceled at Chicago’s airports as double-digit subzero temperatures cover the region, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The extremely cold air has led to a run water advisory in Big Rapids, Michigan, where temperatures have plummeted to subzero levels. The advisory was issued on Wednesday morning by city officials.

“The procedure for running water is to open one faucet to a pencil-lead size stream of cold water and allow that faucet to continue running water throughout the duration of the Advisory,” the advisory announcement reads.

Run water advisories allow water to circulate through the pipes, preventing ice buildup in pipes.

Homeowners within the city who are running their water under the advisory are asked to notify the city treasurer’s office.

According to poweroutage.us, there are more than 36,000 customers without power in Illinois. Additionally, there are over 13,000 without power in Indiana and more than 8,000 in Wisconsin.

The impacts to transportation continue to mount due to the brutal cold.

“Extreme weather conditions and an abundance of caution have led Amtrak to cancel all train originations to and from Chicago for Wednesday, Jan. 30, including short-distance corridor trains and long-distance overnight trains,” Amtrak said in a statement. “Short-distance services are also canceled on Thursday, Jan. 31, and most long-distance services to or from Chicago are also not expected to originate on Jan. 31.”

Over 1,000 flights have been canceled so far on Wednesday at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, according to FlightAware.

We have officially hit -30 here at the NWS La Crosse office as of 520 a.m. The wind chill is -54. Be sure to dress appropriately if you’re heading out for the day. pic.twitter.com/y80sMDZM7y

— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) January 30, 2019

The -30 at NWS La Crosse may be the all-time coldest record for the office. Official records for the office go back to Jan. 1, 2000. The office opened in 1996, so it’s possible it may have been colder at some point. -25 had been the coldest on Jan. 6, 2014 & Jan. 29, 2019.

— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) January 30, 2019

A snow squall warning has been issued for parts of western Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, until 6:15 a.m. EST. The warning includes portions of interstates 70, 279, 376 and 579.

Very poor visibility from heavy and blowing snow is expected, with wind gusts up to 30 mph.

” data-reactid=”628″>”Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes your location,” the National Weather Service warning said. “If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead to accidents.”

A snow squall warning is in effect until 6:15 AM EST for I-279, I-376, I-579, I-70 near Pittsburgh, PA; US-422 near Butler, PA and US-422 near Kittanning–Ford City, PA. pic.twitter.com/wwXDMzNvcK

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) January 30, 2019

Ahead of the leading edge of Arctic air, a line of snow showers and heavier squalls is advancing eastward from parts of northwestern Tennessee to western Pennsylvania. This line can drop a quick coating to an inch of snow while drastically lowering visibility on the roadways.

radar 3.50 am 1.30

200 AM Update: The Quad Cities (Moline) record low temperature for January 30th has been broken! The current temperature is -17°F, which breaks the previous record of -14°F, and we’re not done falling yet! Davenport currently at -21°F! #iawx #ilwx #mowx pic.twitter.com/2pPABo767O

— NWS Quad Cities (@NWSQuadCities) January 30, 2019

Midnight local temperature reading at the NWS La Crosse office. With a 14 mph wind, the wind chill is 48 below. pic.twitter.com/GQQyJgPdrb

— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) January 30, 2019

The current temperature in Detroit is 2 F, which is 27 degrees lower than this time on Monday night when it was 29 F. The forecast low of minus 7 on Tuesday night will break the daily record of minus 4 set in 1951.

A band of heavy lake-effect snow with snow rates up to 2 inches per hour will push northward over Niagara and Orleans County in New York, before heading towards Buffalo, New York.

At 9:55 pm a band of heavy lake effect snow with snow rates up to 2″/hr will push northward over Niagara and Orleans county, and extreme northern parts of the Northtowns this next hour before settling back southward towards the City of #Buffalo and the airport late this evening. pic.twitter.com/70hXXVfvU3

— NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) January 30, 2019

The U.S. Postal Service announced that delivery will be suspended on Wednesday for Minnesota, western Wisconsin, Iowa and western Illinois.

The Minnesota Senate has canceled all hearings for Wednesday.

Heads up on I-80 in the #Minooka area@ILStatePolice District 5 extremely icy conditions on I-80 between Ridge Road and River Road between Mileposts 122 and 125. @WBBMNewsradio #ChicagoTraffic pic.twitter.com/8vZkayPMwx

— Traffic and Weather together on the 8s (@WBBM780Traffic) January 30, 2019

Wind chill warnings are in effect for all of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan and most of North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Blowing and drifting snow will continue to be an issue across the Great Lakes tonight through Wednesday as frequent gusts of 30-40 mph continue. Winds will also pick up on Wednesday across portions of the Northeast. This will lead to additional blowing and drifting snow.

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The temperature in Chicago has fallen below zero and is expected to remain below this benchmark for over 48 hours. Although the mercury just dropped below zero, the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature has been subzero since 4 a.m. CST Tuesday.

This extreme cold has caused hundreds of flight delays and cancellations at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. More delays and cancellations are likely this week at these airports and others across the region due to the extended cold spell.

City officials are taking to the streets of Chicago to convince homeless people to go to shelters and warm centers to stay safe during the record-challenging chill, according to the Associated Press.

CLOSING: Due to the extreme cold, #BrookfieldZoo will be closed on Wednesday 1/30 & Thursday 1/31. Don’t worry, our dedicated animal care teams will be onsite to make sure all the animals are warm & well. #PolarVortex2019 https://t.co/kfdGIITev7 pic.twitter.com/X82yUOoN15

— Brookfield Zoo (@brookfield_zoo) January 29, 2019

In addition to causing AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to plummet, biting winds are shipping around snow that fell across the north-central and midwestern U.S. on Sunday and Monday.

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A plow truck driving along Highway 21 near Waterloo, Iowa. The road was partially covered by snow being blown around amid high winds. (Photo/IowaDOT)

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A plow truck driving along Highway 21 near Waterloo, Iowa. The road was partially covered by snow being blown around amid high winds. (Photo/IowaDOT)

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