The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Northwest winds will be 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects.

Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Winds will quickly increase Thursday morning in the wake of a cold front and remain strong and gusty through the afternoon before diminishing in the evening.

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

For Saturday through Saturday night, a period of accumulating snow is probable. A change to a wintry mix and even rain should occur from southeast to northwest for much of the area. The details and impacts however remain less certain, however if you will be traveling across the region keep up to date on the latest forecast.

The latest:

Tonight: A chance of rain, mainly after 9 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of rain showers before 4 p.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Saturday: Snow before 4 p.m., then snow and sleet. High near 32. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday Night: Rain, snow, and sleet before 1 a.m., then rain and snow likely between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of snow after 4 a.m. Low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers before 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.

M.L. King Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 26.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23.