The Polar Vortex is causing a phenomenon of steam on the river and the lake. It's quite strange in that the river is starting to freeze and the air today registered almost -50F at its coldest. I took this using my telephoto 600mm safely inside our condo. It's surreal -- closings include the university, theater performances, museums, schools, etc. today and tomorrow.
Update: 24 hours later, a large portion was frozen (taken this morning) - https://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2019-01-31
Wow that is super cold ... We (in NZ) are suffering through a heat wave at the moment so hard to get our head around ... Hope it warms up for you soon ...
holy macinaw! -50F!!! what god brought that punishment! i didn't dare linger for more than 5 minutes outside. i was wearing stockings and i regretted it as soon as i came out of my building. i remember being in chicago a long time ago in the 90's and it was -40F; a guy at the gas station bought pepsi and drank it while putting gas in his car. he screamed when the can got stuck in his lips and when he forced it his lips got skinned but the blood coagulated instantly. not a good sight.
Such a strange sight! This is why I love 365 as we can see the different extremes of weather going on in the world at the moment! Stay in your warm condo ! By the way what is a phone 600mm?
We call it "sea smoke" when this happens on the Cape. We have 5 degrees here this morning. Stay warm. I'll bet the plumbers will be busy with people's pipes freezing everywhere.
The most intriguing Chicago sight I’ve seen on television the last couple of days are the fires on the railroad tracks to keep them from freezing. The color of the water and the steam look bitterly cold. Just an amazing weather event for your city.
I've been watching you on the news. Stay warm and that is a real reach with that lens from your condo. You'd think you were on the 5th floor and I know you are way way up high.
Wow, that's seriously cold. We have been watching the Chicago weather on TV, it really is incredible. Good job you have a nice warm condo, just stay there until all has past!
I watched a report on our UK news this morning from Chicago. It was -29 and the reporter was saying how nobody should venture outside. I wish they'd realise that the poor reporters don't need to be outside to tell us this! This is such an extraordinary photo. I hope this cold starts to ease soon.
Oh my goodness I can’t even imagine what this is like. When we lived in Iowa we hit -37 one day -one of our windows cracked and some floor tile. Hope your heater keeps working !
@samae How awful! We've been fortunate compared to friends. No frozen pipes, heat working fine inside so totally comfortable. And it should be over by tomorrow.
Yesterday we had snow blowing across the road as I drove home- I almost didn't want to get out of the car and walk 10 steps to the front door it was so cold. But I can't complain- the wood stove is keeping us nice and warm. Great shot- so bizarre to think it's warm enough to steam but also cold enough to freeze.
It looks so surreal. Hope you're all safe and warm.