Wind Advisory is up for gusts 40-50 mph this afternoon-evening to part of tonight.
Note this big storm with blizzard Iowa & Nebraska to Minnesota & North Dakota, the High Wind Warnings & then the High Wind Warnings in the Northeast with Flood Watches as 50s, 1-3" rain occur atop still 1-2 feet of snow on the ground. Then, Red Flag Warnings for wildfires are up in Kansas as strong, dry winds blow in & downslope off the Rockies & High Plains.
The corridors with best risk of severe weather with tornadoes will be the Lower Mississippi Valley to southern Alabama & then again over eastern North Carolina, South Carolina & Virginia.
As of 12 p.m. temperatures are 48-56 with wall of 40-50 mph gusts crossing the state line from Illinois. Gusts in the viewing area now are running 25-40 mph.
Scattered showers will continue to increase today following by a line of heavier rain (like a squall line) along the cold front.
If it were more unstable this line would like be severe given the shear & forcing & strength of the surface cold front.
It looks more like just a line of heavy rainfall with brief gusts +50 mph possible with lingering rain behind it for a brief time.
Line will pass in the 7-9:30 p.m. time frame.
Rain may end as brief flakes around midnight as cold air rushes in followed by a few flurries Thursday morning.
After highs today 51-58 lows tonight will drop to the 20s with wind chills to 7-15 by early Thursday morning.
A total of 0.30-0.60" of rainfall is possible with lesser amounts possible in the northwest.
Some flurries & snow showers are possible Thursday morning & then again Thursday night-Friday morning.
A localized light dusting is possible with temperatures in the teens & wind chills to -6 during this time.
Highs Thursday should run in the 20s to around 30 with Friday or Christmas Day highs in the 20s.
No White Christmas is expected (1" or more of snow on Christmas morning).
Much warmer, windy weather returns next weekend with rain Sunday.
From around New Years up to January 10 we have some opportunities for snow & ice snow.
