Chicago grinds to a halt as polar vortex cold snap begins: 'Today's about as cold as it can get in Chicago'
CHICAGO â Faced with a solemn responsibility Wednesday morning, Peter Thomas did not flinch. He arose, as always, at 3:45 a.m., when the temperature was already well south of zero, and made it to the Elmhurst train station in time to open his coffee shop, Pilot Pete's, for commuters catching the first Metra of the day.
"People today need coffee more than any other day," he said.
Indeed, the blast of frigid arctic air sent temperatures plummeting across the Chicago area. Even before 2 a.m., Wednesday
