NFL Championship Weekend: The Only Thing Hotter Than the Game Is Your Furnace

The weekend is finally here, and for football fans, it’s one of the best of the year—NFL Championship Weekend! But while teams battle it out for a spot in the Super Bowl, Mother Nature is gearing up for a championship of her own… and she’s playing defense with arctic temperatures!

Brutal Cold Ahead: Single Digits Now, Arctic Blast by Monday

Starting this weekend, we’re looking at single-digit highs with wind chills that’ll make you question every life choice that led you outside. Teens below zero? That’s just the warm-up. By Monday, temperatures will plummet even further, and the National Weather Service in Bismarck is throwing out words like dangerous cold for Monday through Wednesday. That’s the kind of forecast that makes even the toughest North Dakotan say, “Yikes.”

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Bundle Up & Be Prepared: Frostbite, Freezing Temps Expected

With frostbite possible within minutes of exposed skin, this is not the time to be testing your limits. If you must be outside, layer up like you’re auditioning for a role in a snowman documentary. And if you’re traveling, make sure your vehicle is winter-ready—pack that survival kit, extra blankets, and maybe a few snacks (because who wants to be stranded without beef jerky?). It might not hurt to also include some water, a flashlight, an extra hat and gloves, hand warmers, and a shove. You never know what you might need.

Communicate Your Travel Plans

If you plan on heading out over the weekend do not forget to let your family know when you are leaving and whenever you make a stop at a gas station, check-in with them. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the weather and road conditions by having apps on your cell phone such as weather.com or or the ND DOT site.

So, as you hunker down this weekend, grab your hot cocoa, cheer on your favorite team, and enjoy the warmth of your living room. Because outside? Well, that’s for the truly brave… or the truly frozen. Stay safe and stay warm, North Dakota!