While people were constantly refreshing weather apps and checking news outlets, the temperature throughout the week continued to drop lower and lower. For high schoolers, this is amazing news because they have no school, however, the dropping temperatures and below zero windchill represent more than being able to watch Netflix all day long.

On Jan. 30, in Chicago, the temperature with windchill was around -50. That is a record-breaking temperature for Chicago and many other Midwestern cities.

A “polar vortex” means being trapped in a cold tunnel of snow, wind and freezing temperatures. According to the New York Times, a polar vortex refers to circular gusts of wind that originated from the poles. These extreme temperature drops relate to climate change.

With as controversial as climate change is, it is easy to assume that it is a hoax because if Chicago can be colder than Siberia, how could the earth be getting warmer? If anything, extreme temperatures solidify the evidence of climate change.

The climate is changing due to both natural and anthropogenic causes and scientists are still researching all of the effects global warming has on climate patterns. It is also important to remember that climate means the overall average temperature and precipitation of an area while weather means the daily temperature and precipitation.

Climate change is an issue that has been gradually becoming more prominent, but now more than ever, humans are going to feel the dramatic effects of it. Get informed about climate issues, but most importantly, try to stay warm during the 2019 Polar Vortex.