I write this post from within the comfort of a blanket fort, which I’m considering leaving in a frantic scramble for gloves because my exposed fingers sting with cold as I type. And that’s in New York City. It only feels like -15 degrees Fahrenheit here. In Chicago, it’s -50 when you factor in windchill. So what does that kind of inconceivable cold look like? The brave residents of Chicago are sharing the experience on Twitter with #Chiberia.

Share! Historic, dangerous, life-threatening cold moving in! I’m just the messenger, but even this messenger doesn’t know how this feels. This will be the 1st time a lot of us feel air this cold! These are forecasted Wind Chills Wednesday morning. #chiberia #chicago #ilwx pic.twitter.com/W8dQebGgCJ

— Cheryl Scott (@CherylScottWX) January 29, 2019

It was 1 degree when I took these pics. Chicago is expected to be colder than Antarctica and Siberia this week. #Chiberia pic.twitter.com/2zwsrvoFQc

— megan riley (@mariley2) January 29, 2019

Ghost Town. Not a single soul (pedestrian) on Michigan Avenue at 9:30 on a Wednesday morning. #Chiberia #PolarVortex2019 #ILwx #Chicago pic.twitter.com/ri8Rphjwqx

— Mike Hamernik (@MikeHamernik) January 30, 2019

Cold is just a state of mind #Chiberia #ChicagoFire #Chicago pic.twitter.com/hJhJ4CyXlR

— Eng 18 Chicago Fire (@CFDEngine18) January 29, 2019

Hashtag eyelash icicles. #Chiberia #PolarVortex pic.twitter.com/PA6Zr8R5yz

— Pedro (@pedrolisbao) January 30, 2019

Grammie is ready to potty in #Chiberia!!
Thermal Full Body Jammies ✅
Rubber Boots ✅
Fleece Lined Puffer Coat ✅
Hood Up & Tied ✅ pic.twitter.com/vYsbJKpCMZ

— LB (@lkb273) January 30, 2019

We didn't choose the Chiberia life, the Chiberia life chose us 🥶#chiberia #dogsofchiberia pic.twitter.com/1VjqZBIpd4

— Gizelle Marie (@ComplianceRebel) January 31, 2019

Several users posted photos and video to show how the cold was invading their homes!

Chilly morning in #Chicago #PolarVortex pic.twitter.com/RZjz0sCFe8

— Mark Powell (@FrGoose13) January 30, 2019

Insane👀👀👀👀 @weatherchannel @accuweather #winterstormjayden #windchillwarning #albertaclipper #Chiberia pic.twitter.com/lXwFBTrrem

— Nicholas William Walcott (@big6live) January 30, 2019

Wanna know how cold it is in #CHICAGO? Check out the ice on the INSIDE of my windows this morning! #PolarVortex STAY WARM! pic.twitter.com/nxjZTdK5l6

— Claire Scatter (@ClaireScatter) January 30, 2019

Hi #Chiberia how are ya?#PolarVotex2019 ❄️ pic.twitter.com/b8nUpsArYH

— tessa ☄️ (@leviotessa) January 31, 2019

We made a breakthrough in insulating techniques this morning. #PolarVortex #Chicago pic.twitter.com/Ljd36JXNZY

— Jim Hambleton (@jimhambleton) January 30, 2019

To keep the commute rolling, Chicago had to create track fires!

❄️ #PolarVortex2019: Crews set fires to keep train tracks from contracting as Chicago faces record low temperatures pic.twitter.com/VXhrKPnpX2

— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) January 30, 2019

But there was some fun and games too. Like the flurry of folks who braved the cold to see if these extreme temps could turn boiling water into a burst of snow!

Boiling water freezes before it hits the ground. -22/-49 windchill in Chicago. #Chicago #Jaden #chiberia pic.twitter.com/UPYVjloGBk

— clay carroll (@Clay_Carroll) January 30, 2019

Took a break from science-ing indoors to casually throw boiling water off my deck, as you do #Chiberia #PolarVortex2019 pic.twitter.com/MEm6fxhxxs

— Lucianne Walkowicz (@shaka_lulu) January 30, 2019

But what if you put a wet shirt outside?

It’s a little cold in #Chiberia @barstoolWSD @barstoolcarl @RedLineRadio pic.twitter.com/jzhVQQnLAz

— Terry Greenbeans (@TerryGreenbeans) January 30, 2019

How about bubbles?

Making frozen bubbles in Chiberia. #Physics #22below pic.twitter.com/lp7W1xC8Oe

— David Tollefsen (@toflemeister) January 30, 2019

So how do we endure this cold?

Whatever they pay him, it's not enough. #Chiberia pic.twitter.com/X6iIkYqGzq

— Intelligence should go back to school. (@spiderstumbled) January 29, 2019

And if you MUST go outside:

"Don't be stupid." -Veteran reporter cold weather advice from our very own @NancyLoo. #Chiberia #dontbestupid pic.twitter.com/yh2J1vXE49

— WGNMorningNews (@WGNMorningNews) January 25, 2019

(The header image is not Chicago, but a scene from The Day After Tomorrow.)

Kristy Puchko is the film editor of Pajiba. You can follow her on Twitter.