Near-record temperatures, gusty winds expected Friday in Chicago before cooler weather returns this weekend

Gusty winds up to 45 mph are expected to move through the Chicago area Friday, the National Weather Service said.

Weather officials issued a wind advisory from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday in Cook and DuPage counties. Winds between 15 and 25 mph are expected to start picking up late morning, while the strongest gusts would pass through in the mid to late afternoon, weather officials said.

Drivers are advised to drive cautiously in the evening. The weather service also recommended people secure lightweight outdoor furniture and decorations and avoid activities that could cause open flames or sparks, such as parking on grass and improperly disposing of smoking materials.

There’s an increased threat of fire spread, the weather service said. “Any grass or brush fires have the potential to quickly spread out of control, particularly south of I-80 where the lowest humidity values are,” the weather service posted on X.

The winds could also cause temperatures to rise and possibly reach near-record levels in the lower 60s during the day, weather officials said. However, scattered showers and even a few flurries may be possible in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to drop significantly to the mid-20s Friday night, weather officials said.

Cooler weather will stick around over the weekend. On Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach the low 30s before dropping to the high teens at night.

Sunday’s temperatures are predicted to hover in the high 30s during the day and drop to the high 20s at night.