Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and this winter, in particular, only made people wish it was summer again. The storms and blizzards that come with the season change are no joke, and this winter, the United States and Canada were hit with a freeze so chilling it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event. Be prepared to be captivated by these photos that show what a true winter looks like. You'll probably need to grab a jacket by the time you get to the last picture!
The Entrance to Their Front Door Is Snowed in
This looks like a whole lot of "no thank you." Seriously, this snow day got so bad that the snow fully covered this front door entrance, and people were completely shut in. By the looks of it, it's pretty scary. Where do you even start with shoveling this snow out of the way? Maybe if they start with a tunnel, then they can at least turn their home into an igloo for the time being.
Quite frankly, these snowed-in pictures are terrifying. If you live in a place that's never seen snow like this before, then just be thankful.
Heating the Train Tracks With Fire
These images are of the train tracks in Chicago on fire, but before you become horrified, this is actually done intentionally. Rather than have automated electrical heating systems on the trains, they must manually heat them with fire. Why do they do this? Since the temperatures are below freezing, they must heat the train tracks to prevent them from freezing over and to ensure the trains can still drive properly.
It may seem dangerous, but it's the only way to melt the snow and ice and prevent railroad damage. Of course, the tracks are not burning since they are made of steel.
This Woman Walked To Work In A Full-On Blizzard
A loving husband posted this photo of his wife on social media, and it went viral. She's a registered nurse and was scheduled for another day at work, despite the freezing weather. She got completely ready as if she were about to trek on Mount Everest. Only it was actually just to walk to work through the insane blizzard hitting their town. Can we talk about her absolute dedication to her profession?
Apparently, because of the blizzard and many people not being able to get to work, she was told she could be asked to stay longer than her scheduled 12-hour shift, and she still went!
Ice Skating in the Streets of Seattle
Seattle, Washington, is a place known for its grey days and cold, rainy weather. But this year, temperatures reached a groundbreaking low, and ice was everywhere. This lady even had a grand idea to spend her time ice skating on her own street rather than stay inside her home all day. That sure is a way to take advantage of the scenario and turn something most people consider bad into fun!
Considering this level of ice on the streets is really dangerous for cars to drive on, this seems to be the best mode of transportation.
That's What You Call a Proper Blizzard
This lady woke up and saw this outside her front porch and just had to snap a picture. It looks like a winter wonderland-themed movie set or something out of a dream. But it's, in fact, completely real and a pretty powerful photo. With this heavy snow, extreme winds, and extremely cold temperatures, it could be the worst blizzard ever to hit Buffalo, New York. She shared she's just grateful she lives with her fiancee, mom, and dad.
Imagine having so much snow you can't even walk out the front door or see out of any windows. It's a beautiful view but pretty scary situation to be in.
Practically Living in a Freezer
The weather is so cold that this person couldn't get out of their own home. In Canada, apparently, they reported the temperature got down to -41! This seems unbearable and impossible, but Canada is a cold, cold place. It was so freezing that their garage door was completely frozen shut. Being trapped in your home sounds like a nightmare, but this is the reality right now for many North Americans.
Well, it looks like many people won't be making it to work anytime soon! How many people are wishing for summer right about now?
The Water From This Sink Dripped Into Icicles
This photo will give you a whole new perspective on what winter really is for some people worldwide. A family in Oklahoma shared this photo after turning on their water and watching it immediately freeze! Even the droplets dripping off the faucet quickly turned into icicles all over the sink. It looks like some sort of science experiment, but it's really just absolutely freezing! You can't even take a shower in these circumstances.
What an icy, icy winter. Hopefully, they can get something to heat up the pipes to ensure the water doesn't completely freeze up inside them.
The First Day After the Worst Blizzard in New York's History
Feast your eyes on a photo that will make you say, 'Woah.' This image captures Christmas Day 2022 in Buffalo, New York. It's the first day after the worst blizzard that's ever hit this part of the country in years. Whoever wished for a white Christmas probably wasn't expecting this. The entire road is covered in snow; it looks like it's a mountain and not a highway. Getting caught in a blizzard like this is no joke.
Many people were either stuck in their cars or had to leave them there and find another way to get home safely: quite the image and scary experience.
138 Freezing Bats Rescued
This winter has clearly been a chaotic one, setting record-freezing temperatures. In this case, 138 bats were found hardly alive after falling from the Waugh Drive Bridge, traditionally a place where locals gather to watch bats emerge and fly around at night. However, they were in very bad shape due to the harsh freezing conditions. Luckily, the Houston Humane Society rescued all 138 bats and nursed them all back to health.
It's not often that you get to see a close-up of bats, but those working at the non-profit animal rescue that night sure had a surprise.
Never Thought You Could Shovel Snow in Your Living Room
Imagine waking up, walking to your living room, and, much to your surprise, your entire living room is covered in a layer of snow. Well, that happened to this lady; of course, she had to take a picture for proof. Apparently, the winds were so strong that her locked door blew open. Before you knew it, all the snow from outside was blowing in, and now she's left shoveling her carpet.
Now her house looks like a ski resort, which must have been really fun to clean up! Hopefully, next year's winter won't be this bad.
Hummingbirds Warm Up By A Heater In Freezing Temperatures
Not only is this chilling weather painful for humans to endure but also for animals. So this guy decided to come up with a tactic to help his regular hummingbird visitors in his backyard. Next to the water and food he has set up for the birds, he added a heat lamp. Now, these birds will have access to water that's not entirely frozen and be able to warm up a bit.
What a wonderful way to help the local animals survive this rough winter. This may seem like such a simple solution, yet it's so effective.
Canada Might Be Too Cold to Go on a Run
This arctic freeze is hitting hard and affecting people in ways you wouldn't even think of. This guy went for a morning stroll, and his face was covered in snow within minutes! It can potentially be super dangerous because of how slippery and icy the floor gets during this weather. But this guy has a big smile on his face, so he must be staying cautious. Nevertheless, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snap a cool selfie like this.
It's incredible and shocking to see just how fast the snow completely engulfs you. However, his face must be numb from just how freezing it is!
The Weather Is Dramatically Different Only Hours Apart
At first glance, you might see this image and think what am I looking at? But this indicates the weather for one glorious day in Montana compared to Florida, and it's absolutely insane. There was a 160-degree difference in how it was supposed to feel between the two states, despite being only a four-hour flight apart. Elk Park, Montana, had a wind chill of -74 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning, while Miami, Florida, was in the 80s.
This dramatic difference in weather between the two states is hard to wrap your head around. It's as if Montana is in winter and Florida is in summer.
The Outlet Is Freezing Over
Here is another example of just how extreme the weather has been in North America. Most people would never think they would encounter this problem in their lifetime, but there's a first for everything. This outlet began freezing over. Yes, you read that right. Temperatures were so freezing and below zero that the outlet actually formed ice over it. Clearly, this photo is mind-boggling, but it's also an incredibly dangerous situation to be in!
This is why it's essential to have your home properly insulated! Now, where do they charge their phones?
This Freezing Rain Is No Joke
This winter isn't exclusive to the east coast; it's also wreaking havoc on the Pacific Northwest! Washington and Oregon have seen some pretty scary weather. These areas have been getting hit with hours of nonstop freezing rain, leaving everything in a layer of ice. Just like this image, the ice formed over the window appears at first to just be the glass but reveals it's actually a layer of ice.
It may look impressive in this photo, but it can potentially be hazardous. Especially if a giant icicle falls from a tree or a building onto people below, so stay careful out there.
This Family Accidentally Froze Their Laundry
Now, this might be hilarious, shocking, or both at the same time. But, this family had their clothes drying outside on clotheslines and forgot to bring them in before the weather got awful. Before they knew it, each clothing item was utterly frozen. The chilling air froze each item in the exact position it was hanging, as you can see in the photo. Now they'll just be cold, crunchy, and hard.
It definitely saves on ironing, though, so that's a plus side! If you don't have a dryer, you have no choice but to freeze-dry your clothes.
This Entire Car Wash Is Frozen
Texas was also hit with extreme arctic weather, and there's no lack of shocking situations. One guy spent his Saturday morning searching for outrageous icicles, and he was not let down. He found this car wash that completely froze over. It may look like soap spilled everywhere, and it's simply covered in foam, but it's actually ice built up! It seems like no one is getting a car wash anytime soon.
Considering the temperatures are below zero, and there are ongoing blizzards, the last thing you probably need is a car wash anyway.
This Snow Is 10 Feet High
When you first look at this image, what do you see? It seems like an abyss of grey and white. Can you believe this is actually a snow drift that sits 10 feet high? Buffalo, New York, is getting hit with the worst blizzard people have seen for years and the snow piling up this high is a powerful sight to see. Can you tell which way the wind was blowing?
Considering the snow drift is severely slanted, it indicates the direction in which the wind was blowing. Maybe someone should sled down it?
Clearing Your Driveway in This Weather Is a Battle
What do you do when your driveway is getting snowed in? Well, of course, you have to grab your shovel and willpower and start shoveling! This lady did just that, but it wasn't an easy feat. It was so unbearably cold outside that she was covered with an inch of snow and ice by the time before she could even finish. She'll have to do that every day at the rate this snow is falling.
Although the longer you wait to clear a driveway, the harder it becomes because of how fast the snow can pile up, so it's a battle you must be ready to face.
When the Freezing Temperatures Hit Indoors
With this crazy weather, Buffalo, New York, doesn't seem like the best place to live right about now. Here are some images from one night there when a blizzard and insanely strong wind hit. To describe the weather as chilly would be an understatement. People's doors are entirely frozen, and trees are falling over, covered in snow and ice. The mixture of snow 6 feet high and 80 mph wind is scary.
These photos give insight into a whole other world. At least it appears the power is still on, so that's a plus side to this terrifying situation!
Ice Has Completely Blocked the Drains
This image captures another nightmare of a situation to find yourself in. When the temperature gets too cold, your pipes can burst and freeze entirely. Why would that be a problem? All the water already in the pipe is frozen, blocking the drain, and making it impossible for the existing water to go down the drain. Or if the pipe breaks, the water inside will flood everywhere! A lose-lose situation.
The damage done to many homes from this freezing weather is incredibly dangerous and hard to repair. Not very fun to turn your bathroom into a swimming pool.
It's Impossible to Drive Anywhere
Snow can be fun if you go snowboarding, sledding, or even make some snowballs. But when it gets this severe, it's not fun anymore. It just becomes difficult to carry on with your day-to-day activities. The snowstorm was so bad here that people couldn't drive and had no lights or gas for over 24 hours. This made it really challenging and even impossible for police and ambulance to reach people in emergencies.
This storm is so powerful that it's causing chaos and danger that many haven't experienced in decades or ever in their lives!
Yes, That Is Seriously All Snow
Yes, this is all snow. No, you're not looking at the floor. This is the view outside of someone's window! There is so much snowfall that it's reaching heights people haven't seen in ages. If you look closely, you can see a tree peering over the top of the snow. Just for comparison, you can imagine just how high this snow is building up—quite an unsettling and magnificent view to see.
It looks like people will be cooped up, trying to stay warm for a while. Is anyone wishing for summer yet?
This Is How Cold It Is in Buffalo, NY
This image is pretty cool and really captures just how cold it is. That isn't ice or snow but water from the lakefront fully frozen. It appears to be grey and brown because the water has a lot of runoff, like leaves, sand, and dirt in the water. So although it doesn't look like a snowy winter wonderland, it sure does make an awesome photo. Who knew frozen water could make for spectacular photography?
Living somewhere that doesn't experience this type of weather may make it difficult to get your head around what people are experiencing right now, but these photos can help you imagine!
Freezing Temperatures Are Causing Rails to Come Apart
It's impressive just how much the below-freezing temperatures can affect everything, including this pole. The water inside the bar expanded so much while freezing that the pressure pushed the railing right off! People probably never thought this would happen, but there seems to be a good use for drilling a hole at the bottom of poles now to allow for drainage. North America is really falling apart at the seams!
Nature sure finds a way to do the impossible. It's good that this person noticed and snapped a pic to show others, so now everyone is aware.
A Completely Frozen Road and Driveway
At first, this photo looks like a polka dot street or maybe even a game of extreme twister. But this is, in fact, a driveway and street In Oregon that completely froze overnight, causing a thick layer of ice to form. Driving on this would be impossible because the tires would just slide. Even trying to walk on this would immediately cause you to slip. It's basically one big ice rink.
Although people are unsure why the ice formed in a way that caused dots, it does look super cool.
These Dangerous Roads Are Covered in Ice
The city of Seattle is covered in black ice! Thanks to the freezing rain, the entirety of Seattle, Washington, is covered in an inch of ice. If anybody decides to drive on this, there is no doubt their car will spin out, and no one wants to get in an accident! It may seem like no big deal and even look pretty cool from the photos, but it can be really unsafe.
It's best to stay home when conditions are like this. If you must drive when the roads are covered in ice, to gain any traction, your car must have cables or chains.
Tis the Season
What a beautiful Christmas gift to wake up to! Apparently, a neighbor left for a holiday and completely forgot to lock the door that leads from outside to the entryway. Why was that so bad? As you can see, the door blew open overnight, and the blizzard was in full effect. Unfortunately, this meant that snow got everywhere, completely filling their entryway. This person got to spend Christmas morning shoveling snow out of their hallway.
To be fair, the winds were so high that the door could have blown open regardless of the lock! Either way, this isn't good.
The Snow Is as High as This 6ft Man
The snow has been so bad that it's nearly impossible to see a few feet in front of you. However, as the visibility started to clear, people noticed that the snow was piled so high it was nearly taller than most people! For reference, this guy is around 6ft tall, and the snow is just as high. Now, this is one crazy blizzard to get stuck in. We bet they could definitely make a cool snowman.
The show is so high that you could practically be submerged in it. It is impressive to see photos like this and get insight into what life is like in these regions.
Ice Formed All Around This Rain Chain
Can you tell what this is at first? Probably not, so let us give you some insight. This incredible photo captured ice formed around a rain chain. It's pretty surreal to see how intense this winter has been for so many places in North America. It encapsulates how difficult it is to deal with this brutal weather. Even the rain chains that are meant to help direct water away from the foundation of your home can't help.
It is truly a beautiful picture of a trying time. Although you get good use out of your winter coats, this much ice and snow just make life rough.
The Chicago River Is Steaming
Welcome to the East Coast. Chicago, Illinois, is known to get unbearably cold in the wintertime, and here is a prime example. The Chicago river is so cold that it's actually steaming. The day this person snapped this picture, the temperature was -9 degrees with a windchill of -40 degrees. It's a fantastic photo, but it seems pretty brutal to try and bear a winter this cold. You'd need to wear about fifty layers.
Are there even enough beanies, mittens, scarves, and coats one could wear to withstand this type of chill? Well, compared to Alaska, it must be a breeze.
Windy and Freezing, the Worst Combination
Not only is it snowing for days, but the winds are so intense and strong that they blow everything over. Here is a photo that shows a local gas station in Buffalo, NY, completely knocked over. That is just a terrifying sight to see. You can also see in the other image the view from someone's window that shows just how snowy it is. It's hard to even see in front of you because there's so much snow!
This is undoubtedly a sight to see but not exactly something that everyone wants to experience.
Don't Let the Green Trees Fool You, Temperatures Are Below Freezing
Many southern states like Mississippi still have sun and greenery despite the absolutely freezing temperatures. This photo perfectly captures this because you can see the green trees in the background and the frozen water. There are so many icicles everywhere that this backyard surely turned into a sculpture garden. There is no doubt this is a brutal winter, and many people are seeing things like this in their very own backyards.
Storms, blizzards, and freezing temperatures like this can be really hard to deal with, so at least in this photo, it looks pretty cool.
It's so Cold the Door Handle Is Frozen
Tons of people are experiencing things they've never seen in their lives, with this winter being so horrible. It's been so cold that door handles are freezing from the inside. This can make it difficult to open and cause the door to be completely stuck. This might feel like no big deal for those who live year-round in cold places. But for those who don't, and this is a phenomenon, it can get scary.
Maybe a good hack to get your door to open would be holding a hair dryer up to it to melt the ice formed around the handle!
Before and After a Huge Blizzard
What a gorgeous sight! These side-by-side images look like something from a Tim Burton or Christmas movie. The blizzard in Buffalo, New York, has really taken over, and here's a great example. A before and after of the same house from right before the blizzard hit to right after. The amount of snowfall is insane, although it does make for an incredible photograph. Hopefully, those amazing trees will grow back fast enough.
These images give a powerful look at what people around the globe are experiencing right now. This will definitely be a winter to remember for years.
This Fountain in Texas Turned Into Ice
Texas isn't a place known for its cold weather, but this year it's different. These photos caught a fountain and bench in Houston, Texas, completely encased in layers of thick ice as the temperature dropped into the low teens. Someone clearly forgot to turn off the fountain before the harsh cold weather hit, so all of the water flowing around the fountain froze right in place. Sort of a remarkable sight to see.
This isn't any ordinary winter anymore; this is a full-on arctic blast! As much as it is tempting to go ice skating around this fountain, it's probably not a good idea.
Most Places Don't See This Kind of Snow Fall
What a crazy image. Many towns that are experiencing this harsh of weather and snowfall have never seen this before. This guy opened his door to so much snow buildup it was completely blocking the doorway. The snow even had indentations of the door on it. At this point, it's hard to tell if this is spectacular or absolutely scary. Either way, this guy should probably collect all the snow and build a snowman.
It looks like you'd be spending the entire weekend just digging snow out of your entryway just to leave your house!
Even the Windows Have Ice Buildup
There is no denying that it is so cold it's unbearable! People's windows are even forming ice. Hopefully, they at least have good heating. Otherwise, you'd probably be sitting in your house with ten layers of clothes and blankets on just to feel warm. Who could imagine it could get this cold? Though it is a rare photo that captures something most people wouldn't even think to look at or think about.
WInter wonderland or freezing nightmare? Depending on if you prefer summer or winter, this is either horrible for you or the best winter ever.
When You Don't Have Shovels, You Improvise
Not everyone was prepared for the type of weather and winter that hit this year. Just like this person who didn't own a shovel before this ice storm took over. So what did they do? They improvised and used a spatula to try and shovel the ice off of their driveway! We think they'll probably need a bigger spatula than that if they actually want to make any progress but good effort.
Also, this must be torturous to do this with no gloves! Please get this person some proper clothing because this is hard to look at.
What 6 Feet of Snow Looks Like
Woah, what a powerful image. Here's a shot of the same shed before and after some intense snowfall. Although it might look fluffy and gorgeous, this is really hard to live in. The snowfall is actually over 6 feet high. You could hardly even walk outside! But at least it does make for a beautiful photo. It's amazing what mother nature can do. This town should officially be a set for a Hallmark Christmas movie.
It's so pretty it's almost tempting to run and jump in it. Maybe make a few snow angels as long as you have the proper clothing, so you don't freeze your hands off!