Frozen Chicago: What The Windy City Looks Like Under Ice, Thanks To The Polar Vortex (PHOTOS)

With temperatures in Chicago hobbling above zero for the first time in 37 hours Tuesday afternoon, it appears some relief is finally within sight for the Windy City.

But while "ChiBeria" will soon be a thing of the past, we'll still have some incredibly remarkable photos to show for the bitterly cold, icy, undeniably unpleasant series of days.

 And here's what all that ice and cold tomfoolery looks like up close. (AP Photo/Andrew A. Nelles)

Frozen in time: Michigan lighthouses transformed into stunning giant icicles after being frozen solid by storm

These frozen lighthouses in Michigan could easily be mistaken for a scene from the disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow.

Standing in temperatures well below freezing, the 30ft structures have been transformed into giant icicles.

These stunning photographs were captured by American photographer Thomas Zakowski, 56, on a trip to two cities in Michigan after a storm battered the state.

Entombed by the weather: This lighthouse in Michigan resembles a giant icicle after crashing waves were frozen around it by a severe winter storm

Picturesque: This lighthouse was captured in the city of St Joseph. The structures can remain frozen for over a month during particularly severe winters

Mr Zakowski, from South Bend, Indiana, said: 'The lighthouses were frozen solid by the waves that came crashing down against the pier.

'What made the photograph of one of them so interesting was the fact that the storm was so intense it uplifted the anchors of the scaffolding which had been left there after painting.

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'It looks like a stairway in many ways and added a quality to the scene you will never see again.'

Every year, Thomas makes the trip to St Joseph and South Haven, both cities in Michigan, after a big storm to capture the resulting scenes.

Locked in time: The two lighthouses in the Michigan cities of St Joseph (left) and South Haven (right) were captured by American photographer Thomas Zakowski

'An event I look forward to very much': Every year, Mr Zakowski makes the trip to St Joseph and South Haven after a big storm to capture the resulting scenes

He said: 'Depending on the year, the lighthouses can remain freezing for over a month, but it all depends on the weather.

'Every year it's different, but it's an event I look forward to very much. To get there was a little tricky, as first you have to make your way out on the pier.

'It's like walking on an ice skating rink and at one point I have to duck walk past the first building in order to safely get to what I call the prize.

'Even though my photographs attract a lot of positive attention, that's not the main reason why I do it. I simply make the trek out there because the particular area fascinates me.'

Nature's beauty: The lighthouses and their piers were frozen solid by the waves that came crashing down and then froze

More than half of the continental U.S. is in the grip of a 'polar vortex' that has sent temperatures plunging to their coldest level in nearly 20 years.

As many as 140 million Americans are bracing themselves for dangerously cold start to the week, with some cities expecting temperatures of between -30C to -50C.

For a big chunk of the Midwest, the subzero temperatures were moving in behind another winter storm, creating more than a foot of snow and high winds that made traveling treacherous.

PICS: Meet The Man Who Thinks He Is Jesus!

 Meet The Man Who Thinks He Is Jesus!

His name is Inri Cristo, he is a 66-year-old Brazilian man who believes he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

Inri dresses like Jesus, says his mission is to prepare the elect for the formation of the new earthly society, which will strive to fulfill the Creator's will.

see more pics below

He has spent 35 years preaching and has ‘hundreds of followers’ from around the world, including the UK, Britain and France, some of whom live with him at his ‘church’ compound outside Brasilia.

As ‘Jesus reborn’, he gave himself the name Inri which means - Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews' and Christo which means - Christ.

But despite seeing himself as Jesus reborn, Inri refuses to celebrate Christmas saying it is just a day where 'the rich humiliate the poor'.

‘It is a day when the little sons of the rich can show the gifts they received while the poor children only get a crumb,’ he said. ‘So it is a very sad day for anyone who sees things with the eyes that I see.’

Inri says he first experienced the 'revelation' that he was Christ during a religious fast in Santiago, Chile, in 1979.

Since childhood he had been following a powerful voice that 'speaks in his head' but it was only on this occasion that it told him: 

‘I am your Father. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.’

Continue to read this guy's story and to see more pics

He now runs his own church, the 'Soust' (Suprema Ordem Universal da Santmssima Trindade), located on a lush farmland outside of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, which he calls the 'New Jerusalem'.

He and his followers survive on homegrown fruit like bananas, avocados and mangos as well as a vegetable garden. 

There's also a chapel where Ingra speaks to his followers every Saturday morning and a kennel for the dogs that guard the complex.

Critics believe he is mentally ill - an accusation he firmly denies.

He said:

"I can be crazy but not dumb. Madness is different from dementia. It is the mother of philosophers, prophets and inventors." .....What do you think guys? 

Photos – Check Out Oge Okoye, Ebube Nwagbo & Rukky Sandal Red Carpet Look

These are nollywood actresses Oge Okoye, Rukky Sanda and Ebube Nwagbo at Rukky's Gold Digging movie premiere. With actor, model Ik Ogbonna. Someone said this is the best Oge has ever looked on a red carpet.You Agree?

Rihanna Sets Eyes On Another Hot Dude That Looks Like Chris Brown [SEE PHOTO]

Posted by: Puffy on January 7, 2014

Rihanna has her eyes on another hot dude. She posted a pic of NFL player Mychal Kendricks on her instagram page today and admitted that he’s her #MCM. #ManCrushMonday.

Mychal is 23 years old and looks like a healthy version of Chris Brown. Someone should hook them up fast fast!

PHOTOS: Ex-Governor Uzor Kalu Flaunts His Mega Wealth, Shows The World His Riches! (LOOK)

We're not seeing goods produced by Uzor Kalu in different markets in Nigeria like we see Dangote products but we are seeing his wealth all over the media now. Mega wealth! See more affluence below...