Strong wind warning takes effect, NWS urges residents to take precautions – NBC Chicago

The National Weather Service has issued a strong wind warning ahead of a storm system that is expected to generate wind gusts greater than 60 miles per hour Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

The system, which also generates severe weather in the Great Plains and the western part of the Midwest, also pumps warm air to the Chicago area, setting records and setting the stage for rain and thunderstorms in the hours to come.

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Strong wind warning at 6 p.m., wind advisory now in effect

A series of weather alerts are now in effect for NBC Observation Area 5 as gusty winds are expected overnight and through Thursday morning.

A strong wind warning went into effect in McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle and Kendall counties until 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Sustained winds of over 30 miles per hour are expected, along with gusts of wind that can sometimes exceed 60 miles per hour.

A wind advisory is also in effect for Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties, as well as Lake, Porter and Newton counties in northwest Indiana.

Sustained winds are likely to hit between 25 and 30 miles per hour, with gusts over 50 miles per hour.

Residents are urged to take a series of precautions, including postponing their trips where possible and staying in the lower floors of their homes due to the fierce winds.

5:49 p.m .: Tornado Watch issued for Far Western Illinois

A storm system expected to generate strong gusts of wind in the Chicago area causes even more serious problems in far western Illinois, leading to a tornado watch in several counties along the Mississippi River.

According to the National Weather Service, the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Rock Island, Whiteside, Henry, Bureau, Mercer, Bureau, Henderson, Warren, Putnam, Hancock and McDonough are all affected by the watch, which will last until 23 hours.

The surveillance also includes most of western and central Wisconsin, parts of southeastern Minnesota and all of eastern Iowa, according to the National Weather Service.

The area could see widespread destructive winds, with gusts sometimes exceeding 90 miles per hour.

The thunderstorms, located over western Iowa when the day before was issued, are moving east-northeast at a speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour. Integrated tornadoes are reported.

The likelihood of integrated tornadoes is “high” with thunderstorm cells, as is severe damage from wind.

Residents are advised to stay in lower floors of houses and take other precautions before dangerous winds

Residents are urged to take precautions with dangerous wind gusts expected to hit the Chicago area Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

While wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour are possible, a line of thunderstorms is expected to traverse the area late Wednesday or early Thursday morning, and these storms could push the gusts even higher, sometimes exceeding 70 miles per hour.

As a result, the National Weather Service urges residents to take a series of precautions to protect themselves from dangerous winds, including staying in lower levels of homes whenever possible.

Residents are also advised to avoid windows due to high speed wind gusts.

Tree and roof damage is also possible from the gusts of wind, and travel will sometimes be dangerous, according to the NWS.

ComEd positions additional teams and equipment before potential breakdowns due to strong winds

As the Chicago area expects wind gusts of over 60 miles an hour on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, ComEd says it is preparing additional equipment and crews to respond to any power outages caused by the severe weather.

A strong wind warning will go into effect Wednesday at 6 p.m. for most of northern Illinois, with winds of 30 to 35 miles per hour expected, as well as gusts approaching and sometimes exceeding 60 miles per hour. time.

ComEd says it is positioning additional equipment and crews to deal with potential power outages, saying it will use a strategy similar to that used when extreme weather conditions cut power to 46,000 customers over the weekend. last end.

These outages were resolved within 24 hours, the utility said.

Rockford records highest temperature on record in December, while Chicago sets daily record

Chicago and Rockford recorded record high temperatures on Wednesday, which are expected to rise further before midnight.

According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures in Rockford reached 69 degrees on Wednesday, while Chicago hit 65 degrees.

The last time Rockford and Chicago hit record high temperatures in the 1960s on December 15 was in 1971, the National Weather Service reported. Temperatures could rise further Wednesday evening.

Weather officials noted that Rockford’s 69 degrees on Wednesday was also tied with the all-time high for December, which was originally set for December 3, 2021.

Chicago area residents urged to secure outdoor vacation decorations before “dangerous” winds

Chicago-area residents should secure all outdoor vacation decorations and lighter outdoor furniture due to “devastating winds” expected throughout the Chicago area on Wednesday evening, officials warned.

“Be sure of all exterior decorations, including vacation decorations and lighter outdoor furniture,” the National Weather Service said in a warning.

The National Weather Service has advised to be cautious when driving in windy conditions, especially on freeways and open roads. Residents are asked to avoid the outdoors during the warning, especially in wooded areas and around trees.

The National Weather Service warned people should stay on the lower levels of their homes and avoid windows during the windstorm.