[van id=”weather/2014/11/11/orig-what-is-a-polar-vortex-jennifer-gray-npr.cnn”]
CHICAGO (AP) — More than 1,500 flights are canceled at Chicago’s airports as plummeting double-digit subzero temperatures disrupt area air and rail transit.
The National Weather service says the actual temperature was 23 below zero at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday morning. Wind chills in northern Illinois were as low as 57 below in Rockford.
Officials have warned against venturing out into the dangerously cold weather and the governor has issued a disaster proclamation.
The South Shore Line, which runs into northern Indiana, suspended its commuter rail trips Wednesday and said it expected limited service Thursday. Extreme weather conditions earlier prompted Amtrak to cancel all trains into and out of Chicago on Wednesday and most services to or from Chicago on Thursday.
Some major Chicago attractions weren’t open Wednesday and schools are closed.
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