
On January 20, 1985, Chicago experienced its coldest day on record with a temperature that plummeted to -27 degrees, coupled with a devastating wind chill of -57 degrees. Marking the 40th anniversary of this extreme weather event, the city once again finds itself in the icy grip of frigid temperatures, although not quite as severe as the historic cold snap. According to WGN-TV, that remarkable day in 1985 set records that have stood the test of time. The arctic cold front responsible for those temperatures reached as far south as Cuba, leaving its mark across the Carolinas as well.
In a striking turn of events, on the anniversary of its lowest recorded temperature, Chicago is currently colder than both Antarctica and North Pole, Alaska. With single-digit temperatures gripping the city, Antarctica boasts comparatively balmy highs in the 30s due to it being the warmest month there. Similarly, the North Pole clocks in with mid-20s highs. The CBS News reports, that a cold weather advisory is in effect, warning of wind chills reaching 20 to 25 degrees below zero. The advisory will resume later in the night and extend into Tuesday, with wind chills predicted to hit lows of 30 degrees below zero.
The arctic conditions are expected to remain a staple of Chicago's weather through Wednesday, as per CBS News. While the 40-year-old records remain unbroken, current temperatures still compel a significant degree of caution and awareness around the potential dangers of severe cold.