Some areas in the United States dropped to their coldest temperatures in years as a polar vortex flooded the country from Canada, spreading into the Midwest and expanding to other states from coast to coast.
See also: 14 Freaky Photos From the Frigid 49ers-Packers Game
Wind chill in Minnesota reached -50 degrees Fahrenheit — that's cold enough for exposed skin to get frostbite in 5 minutes. Plenty of other places saw sub-zero weather, temperatures so cold that many officials shut down schools, highways tourist attractions as a means to try to keep people inside. Here are few spine-shivering photos.
A commuter walks across the Chicago River in sub-zero temperatures.
A frozen Lake Michigan sits still in front of the Chicago skyline. Chicago felt a record low temperature of -16 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday.
A man barrels through single digit temperatures in New York City as he walks by a steam vent.
Homeless men tried to sleep at a Metro Station in Washington, D.C. as temperatures slipped below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mist rises along Lake Michigan.
Detroit is still dealing with several icy inches of snow in the wake of Winter Storm Hercules and the polar vortex that has engulfed much of the nation.
A man waits for a flight at Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Thousands of flights were canceled yesterday due to freezing temperatures.
North Avenue Beach looked more like an ice rink on January 6, as Chicago temperatures fell farther than they ever had before.
A Detroit resident clears his sidewalk.
A woman walks amid snow and steam in Detroit.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Image: Scott Olson/Getty Images