Across the Wisconsin border, a high-wind warning was in place with gusts up to 55 miles-an-hour.
Wind gusts could hit 50 miles-an-hour Friday. The wind was being blamed for about 40,000 power outages so far.
"In and around Chicago, Gary has 41 mile-an-hour gusts, at O'Hare 38 mile-an-hour gusts. It is windy. It is gusty," said ABC7 meteorologist Jerry Taft. "They will start to diminish a little during the day tomorrow."
Because of the potential for high-wind gusts, some long semitrailer rigs are temporarily banned on part of the Indiana Toll Road. The ban, which applies to all triple- trailers and long double semis, is in place until 2 p.m. Friday between the South Bend West Toll Plaza and the Westpoint Toll Plaza in Hammond.
Boaters were told to stay off Lake Michigan Thursday night. A storm warning is in effect from Winthrop Harbor to Gary. The National Weather Service expects very high winds and waves up to 31 feet in some places.
