A blast of super cold Arctic air known as a “polar vortex” is whipping through the Midwest this week, freezing over lakes and cityscapes and creating life-threatening conditions for residents.

Wind chill temperatures on Wednesday were expected to drop to as low as -60 in Minnesota and -50 degrees in Illinois, prompting school districts to cancel classes and the U.S. Postal Service to suspend deliveries in some areas.

The historic deep freeze has transformed the Midwest into a deadly winter wonderland. Check out some of the most bone-chilling photos below:

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    A man walks along the shore of Lake Michigan, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago. 

  • Stringer . / Reuters
    A pedestrian stops to take a photo by Chicago River, as a bitter cold phenomenon called the polar vortex has descended on much of the central and eastern United States, in Chicago, Illinois.

  • Scott Olson via Getty Images
    A commuter walks through downtown in subzero temperatures during an extremely light morning rush hour on Jan. 30, 2019 in Chicago

  • Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Commuters pass a thermometer registering -18 degrees downtown on Jan. 30, 2019 in Chicago.

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chicago.

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Geese huddle in the water as the sun rises at the harbor in Port Washington, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

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

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Chicago’s lakefront is covered with ice on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. 

  • Eric Miller / Reuters
    A student is dressed for subzero temperatures while walking to class at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  • Stringer . / Reuters
    The city skyline is seen from the North Avenue Beach at Lake Michigan in Chicago. 

  • Stringer . / Reuters
    Icicles form on the walkway at North Avenue Beach of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Commuters brave the wind and snow in frigid weather, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati.

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

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