A winter storm is grappling the US with freezing temps: How to stay safe in the cold

Blasts of freezing cold weather, heavy snow and blizzard conditions are impacting millions of Americans.

The National Weather Service says heavy snow is expected across the Rockies into the Great Lakes and that "heavy lake-effect snow will persist downwind of the Great Lakes into Monday as a result of very cold air".  The Mid and Deep South will even be impacted and set to see "wintry precipitation".

In the face of freezing temperatures, snowstorms and heavy rain, it's important to be prepared, even if it's just in case. Here's what you should know.

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How to dress for the frigid temperatures

The most important step you can take to guard against the cold is choosing a weather-appropriate outfit, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather Tom Kines previously told USA TODAY. 

"I think the No. 1 thing to keep in mind is that you've got to keep your whole body covered up when it gets brutally cold," Kines said. "That means hands, ears, necks and your face. It's just as easy to get frostbite on your ears." 

Kines also said dressing in layers is key to staying warm and that mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves. 

"It's always best to dress in layers as opposed to one big coat," Kines said. "When you dress in layers, the air between each of those layers will heat up with your body heat to keep you warm."  

You should also wear loose clothing instead of tight options, which can restrict blood flow in the body and make you colder, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Safe ways to get to school and work in the cold

Kines previously said he recommends staying inside during the extreme cold.

"If you absolutely have to (be outside), the less you can be out in the cold, the less you're going to risk frostbite," Kines said. 

If you use public transit to commute, Kines said to keep moving at bus and metro stops by pacing or jumping up and down. If you drive, make sure you have a flashlight with fresh batteries in your car, as well as a full tank of gas. 

ACDelco, a General Motors' automotive parts brand, previously told The Detroit Free Press that you should also check your wiper blades if you are planning on driving in the cold. If the blades leave streaks or squeak when you use them, it's time to invest in a new pair for your front and back windshields. 

What are the signs of hypothermia and frostbite?

Author and journalist Thomas Kostigen previously wrote USA TODAY you should be ready to recognize the signs of cold-related conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite. Even if you are inside, if you notice your skin turning blue or gray, or you experience extreme fatigue and shivering, you should warm up right away.

It can take less than 15 minutes for the first signs of hypothermia and frostbite to set in, according to Kines. 

"You don't have to be outside very long for frostbite to take over," Kines said. "It's a very dangerous air mass. It's an air mass that means business." 

How to keep your home safe in freezing temperatures

There are also a few key steps you can take to keep your home safe in the winter weather, according to Kostigen. You should keep your thermostat at 68 degrees to conserve fuel, just in case low temperatures "last longer than expected." 

If you are using space heaters to keep warm, keep them several feet away from furniture, curtains and drapes to avoid creating a fire hazard. 

According to Consumers Energy, a Michigan-based public utility company, carbon monoxide poisonings are "most prevalent in the winter" when people use furnaces with windows and doors closed. Make sure you have audible carbon monoxide alarms installed throughout your house. If you already have alarms, make sure they have fresh batteries. 

Contributing: Doyle Rice and John Bacon, USA Today; The Detroit Free Press.