High Winds in Area Tonight, Less in Darien

Wind gusts could reach 55 mph around Long Island Sound tonight, causing tree limbs to take down power lines, according to the National Weather Service, although Darien is expected to be hit less hard.

The high winds could make driving more difficult, forecasters say, and the weather service suggests securing loose items outdoors or bringing them inside.

Early this morning, the weather service issued a "Wind Advisory" for the Connecticut coast, Long Island and parts of New York City from 6 p.m. tonight to 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Wind advisories are issued "when sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph or gusts of 46 to 57 mph" are predicted, according to the weather service. The specific National Weather Service forecast for Darien, however, calls for sustained southeast wind of 15 to 24 mph tonight, with gusts as high as 41 mph.

The Wind Advisory applies generally to the eastern New York metropolitan area, parts of which are expected to be hit harder.

"Small tree limbs may be downed, causing isolated power outages," according to the 3:49 a.m. advisory, which was accompanied by a 4:10 a.m. "Hazardous Weather Outlook."

"Residents are urged to secure or bring indoors any loose outdoor objects," the Weather Advisory stated. "Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution."

The specific Darien forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain today, possibly amounting to a quarter to a half an inch of precipitation. For tonight, forecasters say there's a 100 percent chance of rain, with another quarter of an inch possibly falling.

For American Red Cross tips on preparing for and dealing with power outages (although most of us are becoming experts on that subject, now), see the document attached to this article.