Chicago is waking up mostly cloudy and hovering near 45°F at Midway Airport this morning, but the real headline is the wind. Strong, gusty conditions are expected to turn both the morning and afternoon commutes into a white-knuckle ride, especially on bridges, along the lakefront and for high-profile vehicles.
High Wind Warning
According to NWS Chicago, a High Wind Warning is in effect until 4 PM CDT Friday, with west-southwest winds of 30 to 35 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. Forecasters warn these powerful gusts could knock down tree limbs and power lines, and make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles and any unsecured outdoor items. Nearshore waters will be particularly hazardous for small craft and boats, so mariners are urged to follow local advisories closely.
What To Watch And How To Prepare
Before the strongest gusts hit, secure patio furniture, tarps and trash cans, and skip parking under large trees if you can. If the lights go out, check the ComEd outage map and report issues through the utility's site or app. Treat every downed line as live and call 911 for life-threatening hazards, since crews may be juggling multiple calls if branches start coming down around the region.
Weekend Roller-Coaster
The pattern does a hard flip this weekend. A warm push Sunday could send highs into the upper 50s, with widespread showers and thunderstorms and a modest risk for damaging winds in parts of the area. A sharp cold front late Sunday is likely to turn that rain into snow Sunday night into Monday, with localized accumulations of 1 to 2 inches possible and much colder temperatures settling in Monday and Tuesday. Keep tabs on the forecast and on NWS Chicago for updated timing and any new watches or warnings.
Quick Tips
Give yourself extra time on the roads, slow down on bridges and elevated ramps, and tie down or bring in anything that can blow around your yard or balcony. If you are banking on outdoor plans Sunday afternoon or evening, have an indoor backup ready, since conditions could swing from warm and wet to windy and snowy in roughly 24 hours.
