In early 2019, record low temperatures swept through my home city of Chicago, as well as large parts of the rest of the Midwest. A new all-time low for Illinois was recorded, and temperatures throughout the state dropped into the negative 20s and 30s, with wind chill reaching below -50 degrees.
This frigid weather was the result of a "polar vortex" - a region of rotating cold air that originated near the North Pole and moved South. The spreading of these vortexes is not necessarily a rare occurrence, but 2019's vortex was especially notable because of the once-in-a-lifetime coldness of the temperatures it created.
The hazards posed by cold air outbreaks are generally more discussed in areas such as the South, where very cold temperatures are much rarer and can pose a greater risk to things such as agriculture and even the safety of unprepared humans. As much as Midwesterners are accustomed to freezing weather, temperatures that reach over 20 below zero are not safe for anyone, especially those without proper protection, including adequate shelter and warm clothing.
Personally, I wasn't too affected by the vortex, other than being shocked by the temperatures and getting two days off of school (which I'm sure any high school student would be grateful for). I can't remember if I ever even went outside during the worst of it, but if I did I'm sure it was for a very brief time.
I was very lucky to have remained safe and warm during that dangerous time, but others were not so fortunate. Dozens of people were killed by the cold, and shelters struggled with capacity limitations for homeless people throughout the city and the region. Additionally, the cold was severe enough to ground thousands of flights, freeze the Chicago River solid, and cause frostbite in less than 5 minutes. Thankfully, the weather warmed up again after a few days, and temperatures haven't gotten that bad again in the 3 years since.
The frozen Chicago River begins to thaw, and ice and snow coat the lakefront.
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Macy,
ReplyDeleteI appreciated how you provided definitions for terms that can be slightly confusing at times (polar vortex).
It's crazy to think that the whole Chicago river froze. Was there support for those who didn't have homes/ places to be inside?
Hi Macy! Now that I live in Minnesota and understand how cold the midwest can get, it's crazy to think that one can't even step outside unless they're properly protected. Did schools or places of work have to take days off because of how severely cold it was?
ReplyDeleteI can remember the polar vortex like it was yesterday. I got 3 days off of school and those 3 days felt like summer. Me and friends definitely took advantage of the off days. Thank you for sharing!
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