Stunning footage captures frozen lighthouse on Lake Michigan as polar vortex hits US

The St Joseph lighthouse often freezes in harsh conditions

The frozen lighthouse at St Joseph, Michigan (Youtube/Great Lakes Drone Company/screengrab)

Stunning footage been captured of a lighthouse frozen in ice, as polar temperatures have gripped the parts of the United States.

The structure, in St Joseph, Michigan, closely resembled a fantasy palace as large icicles covered the structure.

The footage were captured by local photographer Joshua Nowicki and the Great Lakes Drone Company.

The lighthouse, situated on the south east shore of the Lake Michigan, dates back to 1832 and often freezes when the region is struck by cold weather.

St Joseph has experienced lows of at -18C, and wind chills have made it even colder.

Wind conditions have caused waves of up to three metres on the lake, breaking up the ice, and splashing the lighthouse.

After this happened repeatedly, the icicles on the lighthouse were formed.

December’s freeze has been particularly bitter, with record low temperatures recorded across the Midwest and Plains regions caused by a polar vortex blowing south from the Arctic.

In particular, Great Falls, Montana, recorded ten days in a row of record low temperatures.

The cold front is expected to dissipate from Tuesday.