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Fairfax County faces a dangerous blast of cold and high winds this weekend, with gusts reaching 60 mph and wind chills falling to 10 degrees below zero or lower.

National Weather Service warnings for extreme cold and high winds take effect at 4 a.m. Saturday across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and parts of central and southern Maryland.

The High Wind Warning lasts until 7 p.m. Saturday, while the Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through 10 a.m. Sunday. Wind chills are expected to stay below zero for at least 24 hours, making prolonged exposure potentially life-threatening.

Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph could topple trees and power lines, cause widespread outages and make travel difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles. Anyone who must go outside should wear layers, including a hat, face covering and gloves.

Fairfax County recommends securing outdoor objects and charging phones, laptops and battery packs before conditions deteriorate. Residents can help protect pipes by leaving faucets at a very thin drip and opening cabinet doors beneath sinks.

The county also urged residents to check on older neighbors and people with medical needs to ensure they have adequate heat. Pets should be brought indoors, while outdoor animals need warm, dry shelter, food and unfrozen water.

Portable heaters should be used properly, and generators and grills must never be operated indoors. Residents without heat or shelter can call 211 or consult their local government’s website for assistance.

The freeze could harden snow and ice left by Winter Storm Fern just as it had begun to melt. That may complicate Fairfax County Public Schools’ effort to resume classes on time next week after two weeks disrupted by snow days and two-hour delays.

Transit service has resumed, but several Fairfax Connector routes remain on snow detours. Some sidewalks and bus stops are still blocked, and clearing those areas is generally the responsibility of neighboring property owners rather than the county or the Virginia Department of Transportation.

When a designated stop cannot be reached safely, bus operators have been instructed to pick up and drop off passengers at the safest nearby location.

During the windstorm, residents should stay on the lower levels of their homes and away from windows. Drivers should watch for falling debris and tree limbs and avoid unnecessary travel.