Now would be a good time to prepare for the bitter cold coming for the weekend. It’s going to be the coldest weather of this winter, so far.

It’s only 26 at 8 a.m., and we’re supposed to reach a high of 46, with winds picking up from the northwest, 12-17 mph, and gusting as high as 30. The temperature will drop this afternoon and bottom out tonight near 16 degrees. With a northwest wind at 8-11 mph and gusts as high as 20 mph, the wind chill could be below 0 degrees, into the negative single digits.

In addition to the deep freeze, there’s a higher danger of fires getting out of control today with extremely dry conditions and the high wind.

The cold will not relent for several days, so be sure to check your pipes, get your pets a warm spot with unfrozen water, make sure your family, friends and neighbors have a reliable, safe source of heat and make sure your vehicle is ready for the extreme cold.

The high Friday will be only around 37 degrees, with calming wind. The low will be a frigid 18 degrees.

Valentine’s Day will also be cold, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 46. But the wind returns, this time from the southwest at 10-15 mph and gusts as high as 26 mph. We’re back in the low teens Saturday night, with a low of 14, or colder in some areas. The wind will also continue.

Sunday’s high will be a very cold 30 degrees, although skies will be sunny. And Sunday night is when we’ll hit our lowest temperature of the cold wave, 10 degrees. Expect single digits in rural areas. Sunday’s temperatures and wind could create a windchill of -5 degrees or lower.

Monday, President’s Day, will be sunny but only 38 degrees. Monday night, we have a 40 percent chance of snow, freezing rain and sleet. The low will be around 28 degrees.

Tuesday brings a 70 percent chance of a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain. The high might make it up to 45 degrees. More rain and snow are likely Tuesday night, with a continuing 70 percent chance of precipitation. The low will be around 34.

A 50 percent chance of precipitation comes Wednesday in the form of rain or snow and a high near 46.