Fort Wayne, Indiana – Damaging winds strong enough to knock down trees and disrupt travel could sweep across northern Indiana before sunrise Friday, with gusts reaching 60 mph during the morning and afternoon hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana, a High Wind Warning is in effect from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday for a large region covering northern Indiana, southwest Michigan, and northwest Ohio. Southwest to west winds will strengthen to 30 to 35 mph with peak gusts near 60 mph, conditions capable of toppling trees and damaging power lines.
In northeast Indiana, cities including Fort Wayne, Huntington, Wabash, and Decatur could experience the strongest gusts during the late morning and afternoon. Drivers along Interstate 69, U.S. 30, and U.S. 24 may encounter severe crosswinds, especially on open stretches of highway.
The warning also includes communities such as Elkhart, Warsaw, Plymouth, and Marion in Indiana, along with St. Joseph and Berrien counties in Michigan and parts of northwest Ohio including Defiance, Van Wert, and Paulding. Utilities warn scattered power outages are possible if falling branches hit overhead lines.
Residents should secure trash bins and outdoor furniture before winds increase overnight. High-profile vehicles such as semi-trucks and campers should use extra caution, particularly on exposed highways and bridges.
The strongest winds are expected from the morning commute through late afternoon Friday, with conditions gradually easing Friday night, though additional advisories could follow if damage becomes widespread.
