AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MONONA;  348 PM CST TUE JAN 14 2014

…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING…

…HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

* TIMING…WINDS TODAY WILL DIMINISH BY THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL AGAIN INCREASE BY MID MORNING THURSDAY WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS OCCURRING DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* WINDS…NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS…LOOSE OBJECTS WILL BE BLOWN ABOUT BY THE STRONG WINDS. IN ADDITION SMALL TREE BRANCHES MAY BREAK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH OR HIGHER. WINDS THIS STRONG WILL MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION THROUGHOUT THE DAY TUESDAY. A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH…OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.