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The US Midwest is in the midst of one of the most dangerous cold snaps to date, with temperatures dropping to as low as -40C (-40F) due to a polar vortex blasting freezing arctic air through the Dakotas into Chicago, Illinois and New England.
With parts of America currently colder than Antarctica, the conditions are causing all sorts of bizarre scenarios for citizens, which they are duly sharing on social media to show people just how cold it really is.
From the exploding toilet tanks to the frozen spaghetti, here’s all the strangest things happening in the US thanks to the polar vortex.
Someone got creative with their dinner in Chicago
This person in Minnesota had an unfortunate incident with their toilet tank
Show all 52 1 /52Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Ice covers the Lake Michigan shoreline
Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minnesota A firefighter walks past an ice-encrusted home after an early morning house fire
AP
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario People walk in a park on the US side of Niagara Falls
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Massachusetts Mike Calen, left, and Steve Goyette, right, prepare to tie off as the ice covered fishing boat, Buzzards Bay, arrives at New Bedford harbour
AP
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Pedestrians protecting their faces from the cold in New York City, in Washington DC, along Lake Michigan's ice covered shoreline, in the Brooklyn borough of New York, in Chicago, in Kingston, Ontario, and in Montreal
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Snow and ice covers Soldier Field
Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Gas-burning heaters are placed on railroad tracks as Metra commuter train passes by
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Ice builds up along the shore of Lake Michigan
Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario A tree is covered in ice from the mist at park beside the falls in Niagara Falls
AFP/Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Massachusetts Ice flows fill the Merrimack River as it heads towards the Atlantic Ocean in Newburyport
AFP/Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario A tourists take pictures of the Canadian Horseshoe falls in Niagara Falls
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Sub-zero temperatures produce icicles that hang from a restaurant
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario A person takes a selfie beside on the US side of Niagara Falls
AFP/Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US
AFP/Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Water vapor from the Mississippi River envelopes a bridge as sub-zero temperatures produce dangerous windchills
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York Pedestrians walk through the falling snow in the Financial District
Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario Steam rises from the US Niagara Falls before sunrise
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Snow covers Wrigley Field entrance
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York Workers shovel at the entrance to City Hall in whiteout conditions
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US NASA's 'Blue Marble' data set of weather systems over the continental United States
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Ice and snow builds up along Lake Michigan
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Chuck Carpenter is frost covered as he goes for a walk
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago A man walks along the lakefront as temperatures hovered around -20 degrees
Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Frozen Chicago River
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York A man walks next to a subway train as heavy snow falls
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago A digital board shows flight cancellations at Terminal 3 at O'Hare International Airport
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago A shirt that was hung is seen frozen
Terry Greenbeans/Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago People walk along the lakefront
Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York A young man waits on a subway platform in freezing temperatures
AFP/Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Mist rises from the city and Lake Michigan
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York People walk through the snow in lower Manhattan
Getty Images
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago The James Versluis breaks ice on the frozen Chicago River near Navy Pier
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Michigan
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
AP
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Michigan
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York
AP
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York
AP
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis
AFP/Getty
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
AP
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
Reuters
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
EPA
Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago
Getty
Quite a few people are throwing boiling water into the air
This person decided to turn their water gun into a snow gun
Coffee became snow when this person threw their cuppa in the air
Someone froze their T-shirt
Another managed to stand their trousers up outside on their own
Clearly, people are not letting the weather dampen their spirits.
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