The Chicago area may experience high winds and strong storms during a patch of severe weather Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service warned.
A line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing “destructive winds” with gusts of 70 mph or higher is forecasted to move across the area late Friday evening into the early overnight hours, said Todd Kluber, a meteorologist with Chicago’s NWS. A few brief tornadoes are also possible, he said.
“We cannot rule out some tornadoes,” Kluber said. “The conditions are a little bit less favorable as we go northeastward with this line of storms into the Chicago area but still can’t keep our guard down.”
A wind advisory goes into effect at 4 p.m. Friday in portions of Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake counties, and will last until 4 p.m. Saturday. The “damaging winds” — southerly winds of 25 to 35 mph with high gusts — can blow down trees and power lines, and cause widespread power outages, the weather service said.
Travel may also be difficult, and the combination of high winds with dry vegetation and warm temperatures can lead to uncontrolled brush fires, according to the weather service.
Kluber said there’s near-record-high temperatures Friday, with a forecast in the upper 70s. The record for March 14 is 81 degrees in 2012, he said. Temperatures are expected to hover in the 60s Saturday.
The weather service recommends fastening loose objects before the winds begin, and using extra caution when driving.
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Severe thunderstorms capable of producing “destructive winds” with gusts of 70 miles per hour or higher is forecasted to move across the area late Friday evening into the early overnight hours.
The Chicago area may experience high winds and strong storms during a patch of severe weather Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service warned.
A line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing “destructive winds” with gusts of 70 mph or higher is forecasted to move across the area late Friday evening into the early overnight hours, said Todd Kluber, a meteorologist with Chicago’s NWS. A few brief tornadoes are also possible, he said.
“We cannot rule out some tornadoes,” Kluber said. “The conditions are a little bit less favorable as we go northeastward with this line of storms into the Chicago area but still can’t keep our guard down.”
A wind advisory goes into effect at 4 p.m. Friday in portions of Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake counties, and will last until 4 p.m. Saturday. The “damaging winds” — southerly winds of 25 to 35 mph with high gusts — can blow down trees and power lines, and cause widespread power outages, the weather service said.
Travel may also be difficult, and the combination of high winds with dry vegetation and warm temperatures can lead to uncontrolled brush fires, according to the weather service.
Kluber said there’s near-record-high temperatures Friday, with a forecast in the upper 70s. The record for March 14 is 81 degrees in 2012, he said. Temperatures are expected to hover in the 60s Saturday.
The weather service recommends fastening loose objects before the winds begin, and using extra caution when driving.
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