Wind advisory until 9 p.m. Sunday

[March 08, 2009]  Gusty winds in excess of 30 mph sustained and gusting to 45 mph are possible briefly through the afternoon as a rapidly developing low pressure system moves closer, in combination with strong winds aloft in the atmosphere mixing down to the surface.

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a wind advisory in effect until 9 p.m. Sunday.

The area includes the counties of Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, McLean, Mason, Logan, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Menard, Sangamon, Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Edgar, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence, including the cities of Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Havana, Lincoln, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Springfield, Taylorville, Decatur, Charleston, Mattoon, Shelbyville, Effingham, Flora and Lawrenceville.

Winds will be out of the south just ahead of the cold front, then switching to more westerly behind the thunderstorms associated with the front as the pressure gradient increases quickly in the

early afternoon hours.

A wind advisory means that sustained winds of 30 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

[National Weather Service]