Postcard from Chiberia

 

 Chiberia

 

January 20----

On this day in 1985, Chicago recorded  its coldest temperature on record---

NWS Chicago on X: "Today is the 40th anniversary of Chicago recording its coldest temp ever on record. This record low of -27°F was set on January 20, 1985, and was also accompanied by the lowest wind chill on record -57°F. Today’s low is forecast to be -2°F with wind chills around -20°F #ILwx #IN https://t.co/tIEjYcGYed" / X

It was not that cold today, but it was still subzero, and even more subzero on Tuesday.

Greetings from Chiberia!  Chiberia of the frozen pipes and cars that won't start, waiting at the bus stop in 20-below.  

Why is Chicago called Chiberia?  It's a combination of Chicago and Siberia.

According to Wikipedia--"Chiberia"  was coined by Richard Castro, at the National Weather Service, during a cold wave  in 2014... The National Weather Service  used the hashtag "#Chiberia  during its reporting on the cold wave. The nickname continues to be used during cold weather events."

 Yes, it does get brutally cold here, and mid-January is historically the coldest time. What's different this year is not much snow to go with the extreme cold.

Meanwhile, snowplows are getting ready in Houston for Winter Storm Enzo...