Did I mention the cold?

First, a helpful diagram from NOAA explaining how global warming has increased the Arctic Oscillation to give Chicago record-cold weather today:

Even though this concept is beyond the ken of some people, global warming increases weather extremes in both directions.

More Chiberia coverage:

• Crain's explains how beer distributors keep beer cans from exploding (a real possibility below -11°C).
• Schools, planes, trains, and automobiles government offices are closed today in Chicago. Also tomorrow.
• To keep the other trains running, Metra sets the tracks on fire. No kidding.
• The Chicago Tribune has images of its front pages during the 10 coldest days in history.

Meanwhile, we've still got another 24 hours or so of this vortex to live through. The forecast right now predicts a high today of -26°C and low tonight of -29°C with wind-chill values down to -40°C.