Accu-Weather is giving a heads-up: Expect a lot of the wet and white stuff come January for much of the nation. And that could affect business operations for those who aren’t prepared.

Last year’s unusually mild winter in parts of the country won’t repeat itself in 2013.

Long-range forecasts show frigid temperatures and heavy snowstorms for January and February for the Northeast and Ohio Valley. The weather service also predicts November and December will be mild, which could lull businesses into thinking another mild winter’s on the way.

With the threat of extreme weather, try to make sure your business:

• designates decision-makers who’ll communicate with employees
• has substitute suppliers/vendors in place for key operations, and
• determines who can communicate electronically and work offsite, as well as which groups are needed onsite the most.