A Wind Advisory and Fire Weather Watch Issued for the Chicago Area
Wind Advisory
A wind advisory and a fire weather watch were issued Monday for parts of the Chicago area, the National Weather Service said, with dry air and gusty winds of up to 50 miles-per-hour possible at times.
According to the NWS, a wind advisory will go into effect at 9 a.m. for Cook, DuPage, DeKalb, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties in Illinois, and Kenosha county in Wisconsin, with strong winds expected to last through Monday evening.
“The wind is not going to lighten up until the overnight hours,” NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
According to the NWS, winds could gust as high as 50 mph, especially in areas to the north and west. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph could be expected, with frequent gusts up to 45 mph.
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects,” the NWS warned. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult to hazardous, especially in high profile vehicles on north to south roadways. Small or dead tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”
Fire Weather Watch
A fire weather watch will also go into effect Monday, the NWS said, for all counties in the Chicago area as well as Lake County in Indiana.
The watch goes into effect at 12 p.m., Monday, the NWS said.
The watch was issued due to the dry air and strong, gusty winds, Roman said, which lead to heightened fire danger. Such watches are typically issued over the summer months, Roman noted.
Southwest winds gusting at times over 40 mph and dry conditions will lead to an elevated fire danger this afternoon. Outdoor burning should be postponed to another day. Use caution with the disposal of smoking materials. #ilwx #inwx
“Any grass or brush fires that ignite may have the potential to quickly spread out of control,” the NWS said. “Use extreme caution when disposing of smoking materials.”
The fire weather watch will be in effect through 6 p.m., the NWS said, as gusty winds continue into the afternoon and evening hours.
According to the NWS, the strongest winds and highest fire danger will be near and north of I-80.
Warmer Temperatures
While Monday started out in the single digits, temperatures will rise into the mid-40s by Monday afternoon, Roman said.
Mild temperatures in the 40s were expected to remain in the forecast through the week, Roman said, with temperatures near 50 degrees on Thursday.
“All that cold air we had last week has moved far away from us,” Roman said.
Conclusion
A wind advisory and fire weather watch have been issued for the Chicago area, with gusty winds and dry conditions leading to elevated fire danger. Residents are advised to use caution when disposing of smoking materials and to postpone outdoor burning until further notice.
FAQs
* What is a wind advisory?
A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds of 30 mph or higher or gusts of 45 mph or higher are expected, potentially causing hazardous travel conditions.
* What is a fire weather watch?
A fire weather watch is issued when weather conditions are expected to be hazardous for outdoor burning and fire starting, potentially leading to elevated fire danger.
* What should I do during a wind advisory and fire weather watch?
Use caution when disposing of smoking materials, postpone outdoor burning until further notice, and be aware of hazardous travel conditions.
* Will it be warm during the week?
Yes, mild temperatures in the 40s are expected to remain in the forecast through the week, with temperatures near 50 degrees on Thursday.
