A blast of icy polar air brought dangerously low temperatures to the US Midwest. Officials say temperatures could reach as low as -40C as the polar vortex spreads. On Wednesday morning Chicago was significantly colder than Antarctica. From the editor of the International Falls Journal newspaper to workers who shovel at the entrance to City Hall in whiteout conditions during a winter storm in Buffalo, these photos will give you details about the polar vortex.

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Laurel Beager, editor of the International Falls Journal newspaper in International Falls, Minnesota

Photograph: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber/The Guardian

A mural in downtown International Falls, Minnesota

Photograph: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber/The Guardian

Steam rises from the paper mill in International Falls, Minnesota

Photograph: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber/The Guardian

Icicles form on a building in International Falls, Minnesota

Photograph: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber/The Guardian

A Smokey Bear statute in International Falls, Minnesota

Photograph: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber/The Guardian

A Chicago fire department boat is seen outside the docks in between the Chicago river and Lake Michigan

Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

A man crosses a street in whiteout conditions during a winter storm in Buffalo, New York

Photograph: Lindsay Dedario/Reuters

The Trump Hotel is seen along the frozen Chicago river

Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

Water vapor from the Mississippi river envelopes a bridge as sub-zero temperatures produce dangerous wind chills in Minneapolis

Photograph: Craig Lassig/EPA

A view above the frozen Lake Michigan

Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

Ice and snow builds up along Lake Michigan

Photograph: Kamil Krzaczyński/EPA

Workers shovel at the entrance to City Hall in whiteout conditions during a winter storm in Buffalo, New York

Photograph: Lindsay Dedario/Reuters