A blizzard is expected Thursday — or at least near-blizzard conditions.

Stay home. Stay off the roads. Whenever a person gets in a crash, it only requires more people to risk their health and property to respond.

Please make no unnecessary travel on Thursday.

If you do travel, make sure to have a winter survival kit easily accessible in your automobile. The kit should include such items as non-perishable, high-energy foods, a candle, warm clothing, including a hat, gloves, and boots, a blanket and flashlight. Certainly the list should be inclusive if you are dependent on specific medications, as well.

Authorities recommend you stay in your vehicle if you are stranded. Though that makes perfect sense when winds reduce visibility, it is also common sense advice when temperatures are below zero. Frostbite is a real danger and sets in very quickly.

Parents are urged to keep kids inside on such cold days as well, because they simply don’t know when wind chill values create hazardous conditions.

While winter sure can offer opportunities for fun outdoors, there are times when it simply doesn’t pay to play outside.