Wind Advisory: Overnight 25-35 mph Winds, Gusts to 50 mph

If you’ve been wondering where the winter weather has been in Downers Grove and the greater Chicago area, brace yourself: The answer tonight is blowing in the wind.

Strong winds will sweep through the Chicago area, bringing colder temperatures and the possibility of snow flurries Sunday and Monday.

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a wind advisory from 7 p.m. Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday, according to Accuweather, as colder weather and possible snow flurries move into the area.

The wind advisory forecasts west to northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph gusting to about 50 mph, although a few gusts up to 55 mph are possible. The advisory is accompanied by a gale warning fro Lake Michigan.

Accuweather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski writes that we’ll be seeing waves of cold air and Alberta Clippers sweep from the Northern Plains to the Northeast, bringing frigid temperatures to the Chicago area.

While the Downers Grove  saw high temperatures in the mid-40s range on Saturday, that was expected to plummet overnight to a low of 12 degrees. Sunday’s high will be about 20 degrees and will drop into the single digits on Monday, according to Accuweather. Things won’t start to warm up until Wednesday, when the high climbs into the low 20s. Expect the highs to remain in the 20s through Jan. 27, although Accuweather’s extended forecast shows continued highs in the mid-20s into February, with one or two forays into the low 30s during that period.

In the meantime, Sosnowski says to expect Alberta Clippers to sweep the Great Lakes from time to time. That, writes Accuweather meteorologist Meghan Evans, could mean lake-effect snow — particularly today. She predicts 6 to 12 inches southeast of the shores of the Great Lakes.

Wind Precautions Advised

National Weather Service suggests any loose items susceptible to high winds be secured, and warns that the winds may have an adversely impact on high-profile vehicles, particularly on north south roadways. That means drivers should exercise greater caution and be prepared for the blustery conditions.

A wind advisory means that sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph or gusts between 45 and 57 mph are likely, according to the National Weather Service.

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