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How We Survived the Polar Vortex
From significant snowfall and frost quakes, to plummeting temperatures, cancelled airplane flights, school closings, business closings and even suspended mail delivery, we have been held captive by biting winds and subzero temperatures the likes of which will be long remembered in the annals of recorded weather – and in the memories of those who endured it.
Let me begin by letting you know that we are quite fine, our electricity stayed on, we had contact with family and friends, enough food and water (and coffee and tea) and we remained safe and sound throughout. We are grateful.
I hope that those of you impacted by the Polar Vortex were warm and safe during it and are doing well now.
Predictions for snow, strong winds, and dropping temperatures came with ample warning days before the onset of sleet and snow. By Sunday afternoon, weather forecasts sounded more urgent with a bleak outlook for the week ahead. Early cancellations of meetings on Monday were prudent and appreciated, especially as the snow began to accumulate mid-afternoon.
Talking with a dear friend on the phone, we commiserated over the hardy souls who work in all kinds weather; crossing guards, those who plough the roads and put out fires, law enforcement and mail carriers. It seemed that we no sooner mentioned mail carriers than I saw ours coming up the road. Tom was using the snow blower out front, clearing our long driveway. I noticed the mail truck wasn’t moving, then the Antler Man pushing the snow blower to the back. I, of course, in the comfort of our living room, kept talking. The mail carrier wasn’t moving, but, Tom was, shovel in hand he headed back down the drive and was soon working at getting the mail truck out of a ditch created by snow plows that had earlier made a pass down the Cutoff.
It was the last mail delivery for several days, not only for our town, but, for a large part of Illinois as well. It was dangerously cold to be outdoors. Even with several layers of clothing and coverings, frostbite is a serious condition and happens quickly in sub-zero temperatures.
The first “boom” I heard occurred at 5 am on Tuesday. It was loud and shook the house just a bit. I padded down the stairs to have a look, thinking one of the neighbors had slammed a car door. Sounds are different, louder, more pronounced in extreme cold and heavy snowfall. A car was idling in a neighbor’s drive, so I assumed that was the source of sound, even when another one followed and the walls trembled a tad. On Wednesday, we both heard more “booms” – an oddity hereabouts – but it was extremely cold temperatures that had our attention.
Registering at -23 degrees (F), it became the coldest temperature for Chicago on record for that day.
(photo from WGNTV.COM)
BOOM!
In between the falling temperatures, the draft slipping in through the windows and doors, and the furnace that never stopped running, I kept apprised of family and friends through phone calls, emails, and social media. It was on social media that a news item appeared from out local television station, WGN. The sounds we were hearing were actually a weather-related phenomenon called cryoseism – also called frost quakes or ice quakes! The ground was quite sodden from warmer temperatures and rain, followed by snow and then rapidly falling temperatures. Suddenly, all news sources and social media were a buzz (or a boom) with this unusual weather related occurrence.
(photo from WGNTV.COM)
We are a hardy bunch, we Midwesterners. We adjust to the variable temperatures, the heat and humidity, the freezing cold and snow. We experience appreciable temperature variations often enough, especially here near one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan. I think, however, that we will all remember the Polar Vortex of 2019 as we remember the Chicago Blizzard of 1967, Mother’s Day snow and more.
As I write this, Saturday night, it is 40 degrees (F). It was -21 degrees (F) on Friday morning! The groundhog saw his shadow, a yearly ritual to predict an early or late spring. Who knows? Maybe spring will be early this year. Predictions are for 50 degrees in a few days. As for me, I’ll wait and see.
Spring will come when it will and I will rejoice in all it brings, but, for now we are still n the heart of winter and February has just begun. I am a few days late in wishing Rabbit! Rabbit! to all, which is a greeting come the first day of the month. I blame it on the Polar Vortex – as did the bunnies when Tom came down the stairs on February 1 to discover this mayhem pictured below. Neither of us heard the crash, and the bunnies aren’t talking. I’m pretty sure it was the vibrations from a frost quake that jostled the glass top just enough to create this little scene.
THAT was the week that was!
(Do any of you, on both sides of the pond, remember that television show?)
It truly WAS a week to remember, Penny! In addition to feeling so cold, it felt completely exhausting. There were so many precautions necessary to keep all of us and our homes safe. Now we are all hoping for a slow melt to avoid potential flooding in the aftermath. We wonder what the coming weeks will bring. Yesterday I spent time scrolling through last year’s garden photos… and it truly warmed my heart. It might be the first sign of ‘garden fever!’ Have you felt any signs of the urge to dig in the dirt yet? Warmest hugs! 💗
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Exhausting -yes, it was! Physically and mentally, exhausting. Here I am, a few days later responding to your comment, and we are both looking at ice storm warnings. Yikes! I have a meeting scheduled for tonight that has been cancelled the past two weeks because of weather. I hope it isn’t cancelled tonight, while apprehensive of the strong possibility ice. Scrolling through garden photos is definitely a symptom of garden fever. I, myself, have experiences some twinges of that same malady. Warm hugs back to you, dear Dawn.
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I’m shivering here just reading your description of the Polar Vortex you lived through! Our weather has been very cold, but nothing like what is considered cold by Chicago standards this time of year – even normal cold. But knowing what it was like back home made me feel colder than I think I would have otherwise.
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While we are used to the cold winters, this was dangerously frigid, and now – we have an ice storm coming. Janet, I think that once Chicago winters get into our bones, they never truly leave. 🙂 The good news is that we are getting closer and closer to spring.
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Wonderfully chronicled, Penny! It truly has been a memorable few days. From my own viewpoint, and even recalling the Blizzard of ’78 here in northern Indiana, I have seldom so fervently wished away the time! Even though I know Winter has not yet spoken its last, I am very hopeful it will not again speak so harshly in my lifetime!
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Oh, Karen, thank you so much. I, too, was wishing the time away, which I try to avoid. I’m afraid we have a bit more of harshness yet to come this winter. An ice storm is predicted late this afternoon, early evening. Storms always see, to come through hereabouts during rush hour. Here’s to looking forward to spring – our just hibernating under the covers. Stay safe.
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Beautiful winter pictures. It was cold last week.
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Thanks, Sheryl – and it sure was! Stay safe and warm.
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Yes, Penny, we survived the Polar Vortex! I also marveled over the fact that we went from -21 to 20 above within a matter of hours. I huddled under my blankets and the heat poured out through my space heaters. Went out a couple times to start the car.
I went to the grocery store when it was around -6. A gentleman ahead of me said, “This is shorts weather compared to what’s coming tomorrow.” He was right. That’s when it dropped to -23. ❄️
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That rise in temperatures was amazing – as amazing at how many times one has to go through the motions of starting the car in these frigid temperatures without going anywhere. I tried to explain that once to someone from a warmer climate. L. Marie. 🙂
. . . and the way the temps dropped! Yikes! I think it was last Friday, when the temps were rising, I stopped at the grocery store, which was a madhouse, and there were a few coming walking though the parking lot – in shorts! 🙂 It was if they were saying “take this, old winter”.
Stay safe tonight, L. Marie. Ice storm coming.
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Oh my word! I think I’d have to move, Penny. As someone who gets cold when it’s 70 degrees, I’m not sure I would have survived the Polar Vortex.We were cold here in Charlotte, but it’s warmed up nicely. I hope that’s the last shot of Polar air you have this winter.
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I hope it is the last shot as well, Jill, though our current weather predictions are for an ice storm later today. The good news – we are slowing but surely closing in on Spring!
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I agree with you that we Midwesterners are a hardy bunch. But I have to admit, on those two days that were brutally cold, I just stayed in. My sister moved to Texas last summer, and while I agree with her that she moved at the right time, the truth is, I was as “snug as a bug in a rug” for those two days. Like you, I’m grateful for furnaces that work and not having to go out.
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I stayed in as well, Sue. It was beyond cold! Right now, I am hoping the ice storm avoids us. Sigh. I enjoy winter and seeing all there is to see and do in a cold climate, but, this one . . . sigh. Here’s to staying snug and warmer days ahead. Stay safe tonight.
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It was a week to remember. I experienced what you did except for the mailman being stuck I don’t think it was as cold down here as you had, but the weather was certainly ever changing. We had the booms which drove the poor dog crazy. We had everything winter could throw at us blizzard white out conditions, waist deep drifts, slush falling out of the sky, freezing rain followed by more blowing and drifting, and the painfully cold temperatures on top of all of that. We also stayed cozy and warm, entertained by some good books, television, and each other. Our nineteen year old grandaughter who is more used to snow in the city than on the Prairie was a bit stunned, but she survived as well even though she couldn’t make it home a time or two.
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We were a colder, but, you started out with much more snow. That 60+ degree change in one day was quite dramatic up here, and those waist deep drifts must have been so dramatic down by you. Wow! We have been safe and comfortable here, and circumstances at home much like yours. I just keep thinking how epic the temperatures were. I’m sure Celeste will remember this winter. 🙂 As I write, it is pouring and we have lightening and I’m just hoping there isn’t a sheet of ice tomorrow, but, will deal with whatever tomorrow. Rest well, Janet.
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I do remember the television show, Penny! I smiled when I first read your blog title! Thank you for the photos! I struggle to really comprehend, yet have eagerly followed the weather channel and tried to learn something of the extremes in weather. Yes, you midwesterners have my admiration! You are very hardy. Thank you, as well, for describing how you experienced the “quakes.” I heard about them on the news, but couldn’t quite imagine how they were realized. What a strange event. Have you ever had those before? As you say, spring will come when it does, and I expect we’ll hear you fully engaged in a happy dance when the snow and frost leave you and you begin to see some trees and flowers budding!
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🙂 Thanks for mentioning TWTWTW, Debra. You are very welcome. Here in the midwest we can get some pretty erratic temperature fluctuations, but, this one was quite memorable. I don’t recall having those frost quakes before, but, they were real for sure – not what you experience, but, an interesting phenomenon. I heard the first one last Tuesday morning, just as the vortex was emerging – then, they continued and meteorologists began reporting on them. Not being a meteorologist, I equate this to the sound you get when you pour warm liquid on ice cubes. (I’m so articulate haha).
Since I wrote this post, the frost abated, temps were darn-right balmy, and now – it is 6 degrees! 😦
PS – Stay tuned for that happy dance.
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You are a hardy bunch….and I’m glad you were safe and fed! Did not know about the frost quakes.. my new thing to learn today! Now, the coastal Pacific Northwest is getting heavy snow, a rarity … we of course are weather wimps and have escaped it all.
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I envy you your escape, Sallie. This winter seems especially hard after that terrible cold vortex and just the other day – ice storms. The frost quakes were new to us as well. Fortunately, no damage, though I’m still straightening out the pictures on the wall. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day.
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Penny, we heard about the polar vortex and it sounded really scary. I’m relieved to read your post on my return from holiday and to know that your furnace kept working, the electricity stayed on and your nose is still safely on your face.
Here the heat is exhausting us and sends us to seeking coolness wherever it may be found. What an extreme world we live in now,and how strange that the earth could boom. Your account makes it all very real. I wish you Spring warmth and soon!
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Thank you for your concern, Juliet. It really was “something” to remember, and then followed this week by an ice storm. My nose is, thankfully, see on my face. 🙂
We do live in the extremes, whether here with record low temperatures, of you with such oppressive heat. We both move with the seasons, on opposite ends of the world, but, this year it seems must harder and extreme, doesn’t it? Take care, Juliet.
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Dear Penny, we, too, here in western Missouri experienced the polar vortex. The wind chill got down into the minus 20s and the temperature to 16 below, which truly seldom if ever happens here. Then the temp went up for a few days and since then, we had a 1/2 of ice that stayed for over a week because of low temperatures. It melted yesterday with the temp got up to 54F.
I am so fortunate to have a neighbor across the street–25 years younger and with much better balance than i–who checks on me. She brought my mail over each day from the mailbox across the street. I worried that she’d fall, but she shushed me!
I do remember that TV show. I learned a lot!
I’m so glad that you and Tom got through this okay. I kept praying my thanks for having the money to afford the heat and for the down-filled comforter of my bed. I was so grateful that the news told us about volunteers in Kansas City who went out and checked on animals and the homeless and found them places to stay out of the weather. In Minnesota during cold snaps always someone dies. Peace.
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It is so good to hear from you, Dee. I was wondering if you were being impacted by the polar vortex (and it is always a treat to hear from you). That weather blanketed a large portion of the country.
Good neighbors are such a gift. I am glad to hear that she brought in your mail.
The show, as I recall, was only on for a few seasons, but, was fun to watch.
The Chicago area, including the suburbs, seemed to do a good job of giving comfort and warmth to those who were without heat or homeless. There were some deaths, however. Sadly, on man who was found next to his car. I think he had a heart attack, but, froze before anyone knew he was there. The temperatures were truly brutal. Our MN family has had quite a few extra snow days, home from school or work.
Stay warm and inside, Dee. Peace.
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