CHICAGO (STMW)– The Chicago area will experience cold and powerful winds tonight, but no severe thunderstorms or tornadoes are expected, according to the National Weather Service.

Strong easterly winds have created tornadoes across central Illinois, but the storms are not expected to reach Chicago, NWS meteorologist Richard Castro said Friday evening.

“The wind and cold is the most severe thing that we’re going to see, and the best chance of any kind of severe activity will be across the southern portion of the area, including Livingston, Ford, Iroquois counties in Illinois and Benton County in Indiana,” Castro said.

The winds will increase from 20-30 mph to gusts exceeding more than 45 mph. A wind advisory remains in effect until 9 p.m. for several counties, including Lake, McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, Dupage and Cook in Illinois, as well as Porter and Lake in Indiana, the weather service said.

The weather service warns that high winds will make traveling on north-south oriented roads difficult, especially for larger vehicles.

East to northeast winds that will gust to around 45 mph will also cause waves on Illinois shores to grow to 10 to 14 feet, the weather service said. These “large and battering waves” could result in localized lakeshore flooding.

The low on Friday night will reach 47 while temperatures will drop to 37 degrees Saturday night.

Besides the wind, Chicago will see up to an inch of rainfall Friday night and there is a 60 percent chance that rain will continue through Saturday.

Sunday will be the only window for a little sunshine, with a high of 55 degrees and only a 40 percent chance of rain Sunday night. There’s a chance of rain all the way through Friday of next week, the weather service said.

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