Gusty winds through Wednesday evening

 

Northwest winds have been gusting 40-45 mph throughout much of Wednesday afternoon. A deepening low-pressure system over the southern tip of Lake Michigan has been responsible for the increasing wind. Once the low begins to weaken and move further away from the Stateline the winds will begin to ease. Unfortunately, that doesn't look to occur until late Thursday or Friday.

Scattered rain and snow showers have continued for much of the day, with a steadier snowfall currently west and southwest of Rockford. Any additional accumulations will remain minor and confined to grassy surfaces through the evening.

Northwest winds will ease some but remain around 30 mph overnight. Temperatures will fall into the low 30s tonight, rising into the low 40s Thursday.

With the Great Lakes still under the influence of low-pressure Thursday afternoon northwest winds will continue to gust around 25-30 mph.

Strong winds aloft have been a contributing factor to the stronger winds at the surface, but so has the deepening low-pressure system. The change in air

pressure around low- and high-pressure systems is called the 'pressure gradient'. Wind is the result of the difference in air pressure between high- and low-pressure systems, and the speed is directly proportional to the change in the pressure gradient. An increasing pressure gradient means an increasing wind.

We'll eventually tone it down in the wind department but that doesn't look to occur until late Thursday, at the earliest, but most likely Friday.