It’s not safe to be outdoors too long with the wind gusts that increased over the weekend with up to 45 miles per hour combined with the high temperature reaching zero degrees. With wind chills 20 below zero, Meteorologist Brad Small explains items to have if you happen to become stranded and the importance of working outside in small doses.

“If your car somehow becomes stranded in rural areas where you might be stuck for a period of time, so it might be a good idea to make sure your cell phone’s charged, you got food, maybe some blankets, in case you’re stranded. And if you are working outside, removing the snow after this system, do it in short burst maybe and take some time to recuperate. Limit your prolonged exposure and don’t try to do it all in one instance. If you got a large area to clear.”

It’s been a warmer than normal winter so far and Small mentions that this cold front is unique because of the winds plus the fact that it’s the first one this winter.