The 2019 North American Polar Vortex meme cycle emerged during a record-breaking cold snap in late January 2019, which sent temperatures plummeting across the Midwestern United States and Canada. Social media was quickly flooded with surreal images of 'Chiberia,' featuring frozen Lake Michigan and steam rising from the Chicago River, alongside the viral boiling water challenge where users threw hot water into the subzero air to watch it instantly vaporize. These memes often utilized dark humor to cope with the extreme conditions, contrasting the harsh reality of the weather with the absurdity of daily life continuing in -50°F wind chills. Today, the template remains a seasonal favorite for highlighting extreme winter weather and the resilience of those living in the Frost Belt.