Millions of Americans across 13 states were advised to stay away from their windows for about 12 hours beginning Thursday evening, with some warnings extending into Friday.
The warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) as strong winds tore across the United States. In some parts of the country, wind gusts as high as 100 mph were expected. During a high wind warning, powerful gusts can turn everyday objects into airborne debris, shatter glass, and cause structural damage with little warning. When winds reach the thresholds indicated in these alerts, windows become one of the most vulnerable points in a home or building, increasing the risk of injury from broken glass or flying objects striking the exterior.
Emergency officials urge people to stay away from windows for the full duration of the warning, which in many cases lasted at least 12 hours, to reduce the risk of being struck by glass or debris as sudden gusts intensify rapidly.
In some cases, namely in Wyoming, winds could be strong enough to tip semi-trucks over while they’re driving on the interstate, NWS meteorologist Colby Goatley told Newsweek.
States with high wind warnings advising people to stay away from windows include Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, and Washington.
“Drivers of high profile vehicles should consider delaying travel until winds subside Friday afternoon,” NWS Denver, Colorado, said in a high wind warning.
Less severe wind advisories were even more widespread, encompassing the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, Northern and Southern Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and U.S. South.
“A rapidly intensifying low pressure/frontal system over the northern High Plains this morning will sweep quickly eastward towards the Great Lakes bringing a widespread high wind event and a swath of heavy snow to the region,” NWS said in a Thursday forecast.
High Wind Warning vs. Wind Advisory
A high wind warning is issued when sustained winds or gusts are strong enough to cause widespread damage, typically involving gust thresholds around 58 mph or higher. A wind advisory covers lower but still hazardous winds—conditions that can make driving difficult and blow around unsecured items, but are less likely to cause structural damage. The key difference is severity: advisories signal disruptive winds, while warnings indicate winds strong enough to pose a direct risk to safety and property.
In addition to making driving difficult, the strong winds could create blowing dust, which would reduce visibility and worsen fire weather conditions.
“Areas of blowing dust could lead to reduced visibility,” NWS Cheyenne, Wyoming, said in a high wind warning. “The strong winds will lead to fire weather concerns and control problems if fires do start. This will be a long duration wind event lasting Saturday night. Occasional lulls or breaks are possible through this period.”
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