UNITED STATES — A strengthening area of low pressure is set to track across the Great Lakes tonight into Friday, unleashing a surge of strong winds across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and parts of Wisconsin.
Forecast wind projections show widespread gusts exceeding 40 mph, with pockets of 50–60 mph gusts possible — and isolated higher gusts cannot be ruled out.
Strongest Winds: Illinois to Ohio Corridor
The highest wind potential appears focused across:
- Northern and Central Illinois, including Chicago
- Eastern Iowa near Davenport
- Central and Northern Indiana, including Indianapolis and Fort Wayne
- Western and Northern Ohio, including Columbus and Cleveland
- Portions of southern Michigan near Detroit
Large swaths of these areas are shaded in the 40–50 mph range, with embedded corridors indicating 50–60 mph gust potential.
Some localized zones — especially near parts of northern Indiana and western Ohio — may briefly exceed 60 mph.
Why Winds Will Intensify
A deepening surface low will move across the Great Lakes, tightening the pressure gradient across the region…