SEATTLE -- The National Weather Service forecast of a winter storm blowing into Washington has prompted several agencies to issue advice, some of which seems obvious:

--The Seattle-King County health department wants you to "make sure you are wearing enough warm clothing before going outdoors." The department also reminds you to eat regularly because food provides calories that maintain body heat.

--After forecasting 1 to 2 feet of snow in the mountains and heavy snow in the passes, the National Weather Service adds, "Prepare for bad driving conditions."

--The Transportation Department says, "On ice and snow, take it slow."

--If a frozen pipe bursts, Seattle Public Utilities recommends closing the main shut-off valve to stop excessive flooding.

Seattle City Light urges families to create an emergency kit with at least three days of food and water for each person in the family and any family pets. Other items to include are a hand-crank or battery-operated flashlight and radio, fresh batteries, a survival blanket, a first aid kit, pocket tissues and hand sanitizer wipes.

City Light said it has sufficient crews on standby and supplies stocked to respond to outages that could accompany the storm. Some utility trucks will be fitted with tire chains for the weekend so they will be better able to navigate snowy streets if necessary. Additionally, City Light has enough generating capacity to meet the rise in electricity demand as temperatures drop.

City Light also reminds people that barbecue grills and emergency generators should never be operated indoors. Doing so could cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. If you lose power, dress in layers to stay warm and seal up drafty windows and doors to slow the loss of heat in your home.