Extreme cold invades the Midwest

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Officials warned of almost instant frostbite while temperatures in the region fell below freezing Wednesday. Some state offices are closed and postal workers do not deliver mail in 10 states. Thousands of flights have been canceled as well as dozens of train services, most to and from Chicago.

About 212 million people, 72% of the continental population of the United States, will see their temperatures drop below zero in the next few days. And more than 83 million Americans – about 25% of the US population – will experience subzero temperatures between Wednesday and Monday.

With at least five deaths related to the extreme conditions observed this week, authorities are urging people to rank, stay indoors and watch the elderly and vulnerable in what the experts describe as "the coldest air of a whole generation".

While most parts of the Midwest will experience freezing temperatures, Chicago will be the "epicenter" of extreme cold, "said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.

Chicago could reach a record-breaking temperature of 27 below zero by Thursday morning It is expected that on Wednesday it will reach 15 below zero

The Chicago National Weather Service tweeted Tuesday night that temperatures had already begun to drop.

"Chicago officially fell below freezing before 6 pm at O ​​& # 39; Hare and may not return to zero until Thursday night, "he said.

It will be so cold that people in the Chicago area have an interest in warming up in parts of Antarctica. Priestley, in Antarctica, will have a maximum temperature Wednesday of 6 degrees Fahrenheit and a minimum of 7 below zero.

According to FlightAware.com, more than 2,700 flights involving US airports are canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday, including approximately 1,550 flights to and from Chicago airports.

Amtrak also canceled all services to and from Chicago Wednesday due to weather conditions, including short-distance trains and long-distance night trains. He said he usually operates 55 trains a day to and from the Chicago hub.

Mail delivery will also be canceled in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and parts of Kansas, Missouri, Montana, and Nebraska. .

In Minnesota, frostbite can strike in minutes

Freezing temperatures are not the only concern. In Minnesota, a strong wind could cause wind chill near 70. In Ponsford, the wind chill was 66, said CNN meteorologist Michael Guy.

"These are VERY HAZARDOUS conditions that can cause frostbite on exposed skin in just five minutes and where wind chill values ​​are below -50", tweeted the National Weather Service. "The best thing to do is to limit your time to the outside."

Hennen describes it as "the coldest air of a whole generation". Temperatures will dip 20 to 40 degrees below zero between Tuesday and Thursday in the Upper Midwest, Hennen said. In northern Minnesota, wind chill was expected to fall to 65-70 degrees below zero, which would be comparable to the coldest cooling ever recorded in the state (71 below) in 1982. [19659015] Frost covers part of the face of a University of A Minnesota student Tuesday ” data-src-mini=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-small-169.jpg” data-src-xsmall=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-medium-plus-169.jpg” data-src-small=”http://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-large-169.jpg” data-src-medium=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-exlarge-169.jpg” data-src-large=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-super-169.jpg” data-src-full16x9=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-full-169.jpg” data-src-mini1x1=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190129150001-01-winter-weather-0129-small-11.jpg” data-demand-load=”not-loaded” data-eq-pts=”mini: 0, xsmall: 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781″ src=”data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhEAAJAJEAAAAAAP///////wAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAQAAkAAAIKlI+py+0Po5yUFQA7″/>

Frostbite also affects the center of the Iowa

In central Iowa, wind chill is also a major concern. .

The National Weather Service predicted cold temperatures with a negative wind of 45 degrees for Des Moines, 57 for Waterloo and 60 for Mason City until Wednesday night.

"It is the coldest air that many of us have ever known," he tweeted.

Wind chill refers to the coldness of animals and animals when they are outside, according to the meteorological service. This is the amount of heat lost through exposed skin in windy and cold weather. The faster the wind, the more heat is extracted from the body, which lowers the temperature of the skin and, ultimately, the body's internal temperature.

Frostbite is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. It's more common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Severe cases can kill body tissues.

North Dakota residents are ordered to avoid highways

In North Dakota, authorities issued a no-trip notice for the northeastern region of North Dakota. State, warning motorists to stay off the road in these areas because they were not blowing. snow. The region includes Grand Forks and surrounding areas

The North Dakota Highway Patrol also announced a travel alert for Southeast North Dakota due to blowing snow. The cities included in the trip alert are Fargo, Casselton and surrounding areas.

"A travel alert means that conditions are such that motorists can still travel to these areas, but that they must be kept informed of changing conditions." Motorists are encouraged to wear the seatbelt, reduce speed and drive according to conditions, "he said.

Wind chill at Grand Forks International Airport was 61 degrees below zero, the National Weather Service announced. The extreme cold will continue until Thursday, with chills of minus 60, according to the National Weather Service.

Michigan State Office Closures

In western Michigan, wind chills are expected between 20 and 40 degrees from Wednesday to Thursday, the National Weather Service warned locals that "these temperatures are going in the next few days"

"We are not used to this, take steps to prevent frostbite and hypothermia," he said.

All state offices will be closed on Wednesday and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the state of emergency.

"Such extreme conditions have not occurred in Michigan for many years, and it is imperative that we be proactive." The National Meteorological Service forecasts low temperatures, "she said.

"Wind chills are expected to reach 50 degrees below zero in many places, such as the Detroit metro, which is particularly unaccustomed to these temperatures."

Deaths linked to bad weather

Millions of people suffer the freezing temperatures, at least five deaths were linked to this week's extreme climate.

And in Illinois, a man died Monday in an accident involving a village plow truck and a pedestrian, Libertyville police said. The driver of the plow truck was put on paid administrative leave while waiting for the results of the investigation. On the same day, Ethan and Shawna Kiser were killed while their Saturn Vue was turning on the side of a GMC Yukon in northern Indiana, authorities said. The couple were respectively 22 and 21 years old.

A 55-year-old man was found dead Tuesday in the garage of his home in Milwaukee after allegedly collapsing while he was shoveling snow, the coroner's office said.