wind advisory in effect as cold front brings gusts up to 50 mph and a sharp weekend cooldown
A strong cold front will sweep through the region Friday, prompting a wind advisory and a rapid temperature tumble that will reshape the weekend forecast. Gusts up to 50 mph are possible during the advisory period, scattered daytime showers will give way to more widespread rain tonight, and much cooler air pours in through Friday afternoon into the weekend.
Wind advisory, timing and impacts
The wind advisory is in effect from 7 a. m. to 7 p. m. ET Friday for multiple counties across the area. Southwest winds will strengthen to sustained 15–25 mph with occasional gusts as high as 50 mph during the advisory window. Those gusts reach the threshold where a few isolated power outages are possible and travel for high-profile vehicles—such as tractor-trailers, campers and motorcycles—may become difficult.
Expect a blustery day along with a cloudier, murkier sky. A lake breeze is already keeping immediate lakeshore locations several degrees cooler than inland spots, and the strong southwest flow will reinforce the disparity before the front passes. Motorists and outdoor planners should prepare for sudden gusts and reduced control on bridges and exposed roadways during the late morning and afternoon hours.
Rain, storms and a fast-moving cooldown into the weekend
Scattered showers are possible through the daytime hours, but a more widespread band of rain is expected tonight. Embedded within that rain are pockets of heavier downpours and gusty wind—while the overall risk for severe thunderstorms remains low, brief heavy rain and strong gusts could accompany stronger cells.
Temperatures climb into the low 50s by midday Friday for many inland communities, then begin a steady slide as the cold front moves through. Readings fall into the 40s by mid‑afternoon and dip into the 30s by sunset. In the colder air behind the front, a few flakes may mix in with the showers Friday afternoon, though no accumulation is expected since surface temperatures remain above freezing during the transition.
The pattern turns notably colder for the weekend. Saturday will be dry but mostly cloudy, with afternoon highs only reaching the upper 30s. Snow showers become likely on Sunday and Monday as another surge of cold air filters in; afternoon temperatures during that period will hover in the low 30s, limiting any major accumulations but bringing travel concerns on untreated surfaces. The air mass moderates midweek, with readings rebounding into the 40s by Wednesday and another chance for rain returning.
Across the central states earlier, southwest winds gusting into the mid-20s to 30 mph prompted elevated fire-weather concerns in some areas; locally, the frontal passage will flip winds to the northwest overnight with gusts that could still reach around 30 mph before finally easing. That wind shift will accelerate the cooling and help usher the seasonably cold air into the region for the weekend.
In short: prepare for a windy Friday from 7 a. m. to 7 p. m. ET with gusts up to 50 mph, a period of heavier rain tonight with isolated gusty downpours, and a markedly cooler weekend featuring late-week flurries and a likely round of snow showers Sunday into Monday. Secure loose outdoor items, check travel plans for high-profile vehicles, and watch temperatures fall quickly after the front moves through.
