There is no doubt area schools and organizations made the right call. It is downright cold outside — and many institutions that were shutdown Wednesday will continue to be today.

But looking out the window the previous morning was far from the full story. Despite little snowfall, windy conditions and bitter temperatures made for a miserable day. It was almost as if our region was frozen in time — or came to a standstill.

In any event, the cold will be with us for through at least midday Friday. If you have to be outside, dress for the conditions:

¯ Wear loose, lightweight, warm clothing in several layers. Trapped air between the layers acts as an insulator. Layers can be removed to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent and hooded.

¯ Always wear a hat or cap on your head since half of your body heat could be lost through an uncovered head.

¯ Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from extreme cold.

¯ Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves because fingers maintain more warmth when they touch each other.

Otherwise, indoors is still the place to be.