Polar Vortex Has Airport Crews Experiencing Antarctica-Like Temperatures

To say it’s cold in the Midwest is an understatement.

Chicago’s temperature dropped to 21 degrees below zero today, but with a wind chill, it feels like minus 51 degrees. In Minneapolis, the temperature reached minus 28 degrees, with a minus 49-degree wind chill temperature. There are even places in Minnesota and North Dakota reporting wind chill temperatures closer to minus 60 degrees.

The chilly temperatures are derived from Winter Storm Jadyn and a displacement of a lobe of the polar vortex, which is now positioned over the Great Lakes and causing freezing havoc across the Midwest.

While most people are staying inside–even the Postal Service–some airport crews are suffering in these Antarctic-like temperatures.

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Over 1,800 flights have been canceled and 320 delayed in the Midwest, but ground crews are still required to work. USA Today reported that airlines and airports are doing their best to help airport workers during this winter weather to keep them safe from frostbite and other dangers from the cold.

"Because of these physical limitations, arrival and departure operations are reduced to help us meet the challenges presented by Winter Storm Jayden as we continually keep the safety of our employees and customers our top priority,'' Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish.

In addition to canceling curbside check-in at Chicago’s Midway International Airport, Southwest Airlines is providing industrial-grade coats, gloves and face masks to their employees who have to work outside.

United is adding temporary heated shelters in Chicago and bringing ramp workers from other airports to the Windy City to rotate into the ground crew schedule so employees don’t have to be outside for long periods of time.

American Airlines set up a mini command center in a mobile warming van at O’Hare International Airport for Tuesday and Wednesday. They’ll hand out hand warmers, extra gloves, and hot chocolate, coffee and tea to baggage handlers and ground crew.

"Airplanes themselves operate at these temperatures all the time up at 30,000 feet,'' said American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott. "But when you get them on the ground there are just things that pop up, like frozen water lines and cargo doors freezing shut.''

Airlines are doing their best to help their workers stay warm, but they might see some staffing shortages today as some employees might not be able to make it to work because of the storm or school closings.

"We're trying to plan for what we know and what we've experienced in the past, but there's a little bit of unknown here,'' Scott added.

According to FlightAware.com, Delta has only canceled 15 Midwest-related flights over Tuesday and Wednesday, which is far less than other major airlines.

Spokeswoman Ashley Black explained why: "We operate at two of the coldest weather hubs in the U.S, so our team is familiar with these temps and prepared. We do remind employees when working in extreme temperatures to dress in layers and stay hydrated.''