Freezing conditions are a shock to local residents

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) -- Single-digit temperatures with wind-chills below zero: it's starting to feel like the winter we're used to having.But it comes as a shock after relatively warm weather throughout the past week.

The sight of snow blowing through the streets is a sure sign: it's a cold one. For the first time this winter, the temperature hovered around zero during the day. And the windchill brought that down quite a bit, more like negative twenty.

Samantha Reiter/UND Student: "With the wind, it makes it too cold!"

The cold is highlighted further by the fact that it came after relatively warm days.

John Wheeler/WDAY Storm Tracker Meteorologist: "We just haven't had weather this cold yet, this year, so it takes a little getting used to. And yesterday was so warm, it was up in the 30s. So, it's kind of a shock to the system!"

And people are trying to get used to the freezing weather. This is South Korea native Sohee Lee's first winter semester at UND.

Sohee: "I'm frozen! It's more, much more, much colder than my home country. I haven't gone through this weather."

Even without a storm, sudden cold weather like this can be dangerous. When people are used to leaving the house in 30 degree weather, they may not be prepared.

Samantha: "If the sun is out I always think it's warmer than it is. So, I was not prepared at all with open shoes and just a really light coat!."

The best way to stay safe: keep an emergency kit with winter necessities in your car at all times.

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