Staying inside on days like these may seem like a luxury, but heading outside - if only briefly - can be a life saver.

"Nobody's safe from it. Everybody can be affected the same way," says Michael Sylstad, a firefighter with the West Fargo Fire Department.

Ice, snow, and wind all play a part in making your home dangerous.

"This winter, we haven't seen that amount of snow yet, but with the wind blowing - you could end up with drifts in strange places," says Mark Nisbet, with Xcel Energy.

If those snow drifts pile up around your gas meter...

"It can have significant impacts on your system to the point that the gas pressure is incorrect and could lead to a gas build up in your dwelling," says Nisbet. "If you smell natural gas, you'll make sure to want to leave the house before a spark could possibly ignite."