Brutal cold is hitting states in the Midwest and Great Lakes region starting today (January 30th), with dangerous, subzero temperatures that are likely to set records and are being described as “once in a generation.” People are being told not to go out unless they have to, and there are school closures, some state offices closed, thousands of flights canceled, dozens of Amtrak trains also canceled, and even mail service suspended in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and parts of Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska. Chicago will be among the hardest-hit places, with a forecast daytime high today of 15 below zero, and a possible record low of 27 below zero by Thursday morning. And that’s without the wind chill.