Advertisement

Polar vortex has Americans coming up with creative ideas to show just how cold it is

Click to play video: 'U.S. Midwest gripped by deep freeze leaving at least 12 dead'
U.S. Midwest gripped by deep freeze leaving at least 12 dead
ABOVE: U.S. Midwest gripped by deep freeze – Jan 31, 2019

Frigid temperatures have gripped much of the U.S. thanks to a polar vortex, and people are coming up with creative ways to show just how cold it really is.

Record-breaking cold hit northern Illinois early Thursday, with temperatures dropping to -34 Celsius in some areas. In Chicago proper, the thermometer dropped to -30 Celsius, prompting many on social media to rename the Windy City to Chiberia.

READ MORE: U.S. Midwest’s stinging cold linked to at least 12 deaths across 6 states

On social media, residents shared crisp photos of #Chiberia, while others experimented with tossing boiling water into the air, watching it instantly evaporate.

WATCH: Hell has officially frozen over

Click to play video: 'Hell has officially frozen over'
Hell has officially frozen over

Story continues below advertisement

“Okay, I’m getting bored trapped indoors. Super soaker + boiling water + #Chiberia = this,” reads a tweet.

“Nothing else to do but a Polar vortex snow day experiment,” another said.

A woman walked outside with wet hair and it instantly froze stiff.

Others put clothing — like jeans — outside, where they froze upright within minutes.

Here’s a look at the frigid U.S. Midwest through the eyes of social media.

Story continues below advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices