Images: The Polar Vortex dives into the suburbs
See images of the double-digit subzero weather as the polar vortex takes over the suburbs
Car exhaust billows up on this cold morning as commuters head to work in Arlington Heights.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Francisco Carapia tries to jump start a car in the parking lot of Maple Ridge Apartments in Carpentersville Wednesday morning as the temperature reached 24 below zero.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The remnants of hands are clad in frost on the inside of the Integrity School of Dance window in Elgin Wednesday as frigid temperatures reached minus 26.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
George Oshana of Elgin walks to the warming area at the Elgin Metra station Wednesday. "It's too cold," Oshana said as temperatures dropped to minus 26.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Frost builds up on his scarf as George Oshana of Elgin walks to the 7:26 train at the Elgin Metra station Wednesday. "It's too cold," Oshana said as temperatures dropped to minus 26.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Patrick Cola of Huntley and also a Metra employee, hurries to make the 7:26 train at the Elgin Metra station Wednesday. "It's pretty darn cold," said Cola of the subzero temperature.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Steam rises off the Fox River along Chicago Street in Elgin as the frigid temperatures reached minus 26 Wednesday.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Arlington Heights resident Chris Dozois waits at the train station in Arlington Heights for his ride downtown. He commented, " It's cold."
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Ice forms on the windows of the warming area as the temperatures drop to minus 26 Wednesday morning at the Elgin Metra station.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Ice crystals from on windows Wednesday morning as the sun rises on subzero temperatures in the suburbs.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
On what the weather experts are calling one of the coldest days on record, Arlington Heights resident Steve Sarussi waits at the train station in Arlington Heights for his ride downtown. He commented, "I enjoy going out in it, it's a challenge, I embrace it." The mist from his breathing was freezing on his face including his eyelashes.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Commuters in Arlington Heights get ready to board the early morning train into the city.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Commuters in Arlington Heights get ready to board the early morning train into the city.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Arlington Heights resident Shannon Braniff waits at the train station in Arlington Heights for her ride downtown.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
On what the weather experts are calling one of the coldest days on record, Arlington Heights looks more like a ghost town as area businesses are closed for the day because of the subzero weather.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
UPS driver Ron Ragano of South Elgin dressed in multiple layers Wednesday to battle the subzero temperatures while making his Libertyville deliveries.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Dangerous subzero temperatures hit the suburbs Wednesday morning.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Steam rises from a downtown Wauconda business as subzero temperatures moved into the suburbs Wednesday.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
One Wauconda resident at Farmhill and Old Country Way uses a tarp to protect their car from the wind after subzero temperatures moved into the suburbs Wednesday morning.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
A backhoe is used to fill in a hole following the repair of a water main break at the intersection of Downing Road and Eton Ct. in Buffalo Grove Wednesday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Buffalo Grove Public Works Department maintenance worker Tyler Ankney uses a propane torch to clear a path for water to flow into a sewer grate following a water main break along Downing Road in Buffalo Grove Wednesday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Downing Road is covered in slush and ice after a water main broke in Buffalo Grove Wednesday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
A hand print is revealed in a frozen window at Walmart in Vernon Hills.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Steam rises from Franks for the Memories in Mundelein. The business, like so many others in the suburbs, was closed for the day.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
James Trelford of Libertyville is bundled up as he walks down Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Zengeler Cleaners in Libertyville, like so many suburban businesses, was closed for the day.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Traffic moves slowly as the sun rises on Algonquin Road in Algonquin Wednesday.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
A snow-covered grass field appears to become frozen tundra in Carpentersville.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Members of the Wheeling Fire Department remove their equipment from a home where several people were taken to the hospital due to elevated carbon monoxide levels Wednesday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com