In late January, 2019, a severe cold wave caused by a polar vortex hit the Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada and lasted into February. It killed between 8 and 21 people.^[1] It came after a winter storm that brought nearly 12 inches (30 cm) of snow in some parts of the region.^[2]

The U.S. states of Michigan, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Indiana were affected by the vortex. In Canada, parts of the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario were affected.

In the Chicago area, temperatures went as low as −23 °F (−31 °C) at O'Hare International Airport on January 30. Chicago's Northerly Island recorded temperatures as low as −21 °F (−29 °C) and Chicago's Midway International Airport recorded a temperature of −22 °F (−30 °C).^[3] Chicago also reached record lows on January 31, with a temperature of −21 °F (−29 °C) and a windchill of −41 °F (−41 °C).

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