Residents in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana should brace themselves for a turbulent weather day Thursday, with strong gusts, fast-moving showers, and drastically lower temperatures expected by evening.
According to the National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, southerly winds are predicted to pick up quickly this morning, with gusts reaching 40 to 45 mph across much of the region. A narrow line of showers moving from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. could cause isolated wind gusts of up to 50 mph, increasing the chance of downed tree limbs and challenging driving conditions, particularly for high-profile cars.
Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, DeKalb, Livingston, and Iroquois counties in Illinois are among those impacted, as are Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, and Benton counties in northwest Indiana. The greatest winds are forecast in the late morning and afternoon.
By evening, winds will change to the west, gusting up to 40 mph, and temperatures will drop swiftly. The National Weather Service advises that snow showers this evening may temporarily impair visibility and cause slick areas, especially on untreated roads, bridges, and overpasses.
Wind chills are forecast to fall below zero across the region overnight, resulting in a limited but significant excessive cold risk that will last until Friday morning. Residents are encouraged to dress in layers, limit their outdoor exposure, and keep pets home.
There will be no spotter activation at this time, but drivers and commuters should remain vigilant to fast changing conditions.
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