National Weather Service officials issued a wind advisory in effect from 3 p.m. Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday for portions of central, east central, north central Illinois, and northwest Indiana.
Officials are expecting southwest winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph Friday afternoon. West winds are expected 25 to 35 mph Saturday with gusts up to 50 mph.
Weather officials warned the gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and tree limbs could be blown down. They also cautioned of power outages.
Locally, stronger winds up to 80 mph were possible with thunderstorms and golf-ball size hail Friday afternoon and evening.
An early spring storm was tracking across the Midwest into the Great Lakes region Friday, and officials said a significant severe threat exist across the area Friday afternoon through mid evening. All severe weather hazards were possible including damaging winds and strong tornadoes, officials said.
Current conditions at Midway Airport were overcast at 55 degrees, and at O’Hare International Airport mostly cloudy at 57 degrees.
