A video showing a surreal overview of the Chicago waterfront from above in freezing temperatures has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was shared by @mstott26 and has garnered 2.4 million views since it was posted on January 15. A caption shared with the post says: “[point of view]: it’s -9° in chicago today.”
The video appears to have been captured from the 360 Chicago observation deck at the top of the former John Hancock Center, which offers views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan from over 1,000 feet above the city.
The footage feels like an optical illusion, with imposing foam-like clouds appearing like giant ocean waves just behind the navy pier, which looks as if it’s being cradled by the tossing waves of Lake Michigan.
In a later comment, the original poster explained: “It’s clouds moving below the John Hancock building, but above Lake Michigan! There’s some clouds in the distance as well.”
The video also shows a different view from the deck overlooking several buildings, with ice appearing to have formed on a window pane.
A wind chill warning is in effect for parts of the north and northwest regions of Illinois, along with a wind chill advisory for portions of central and east central Illinois, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
A heavy freezing spray warning has been issued for parts of the north and southern end of Michigan, near the state’s border with Chicago, which is when freezing water droplets accumulate on a vessel at a rate of 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) per hour or greater.
“Dangerous wind chills” and record-setting cold temperatures continue in the center of the country, with snow forecast to accumulate across the eastern Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast through Tuesday, according to the NWS. A strong storm will hit the Northwest and “more lake effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes are expected through mid-week,” the NWS said.
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‘Dystopian Chicago’
TikTok users were both impressed and baffled by @mstott26’s clip.
A TikToker named Kiersten Miller wrote: “This is the dystopian Chicago Divergent is based on you can’t tell me otherwise.”
TikTok user Angelly commented: “The first clip doesn’t even look real. Chicago is so beautiful, while Jason Rawlins wrote, “…the first pic bout broke my brain”
TikToker Marissa commented: “It took me so long to process what was happening here.” The original poster replied: “the clouds are just taking a nap at navy pier.”
Newsweek reached out to @mstott26 for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.