Wind knocks out power to 24,000 in Chicago area

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Traffic lights sway in the wind Sunday evening at 127th and Sacramento in Blue Island. | Scott Stewart~Sun-Times

Updated: November 12, 2012 2:18AM

Sunday’s high winds knocked out power to thousands across the Chicago area, especially in the west suburbs, ComEd said.

Up to 24,000 were without power after winds downed power lines Sunday afternoon.

A National Weather Service advisory had warned of sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph and gusts up to 57 mph.

By Sunday night, the number of customers without power was down to 6,800, ComEd reported.

The largest power outage affected 4,400 customers in Burr Ridge Township, Darien, Hinsdale and Willowbrook. Other communities affected included Burbank, Country Club Hills, Evergreen Park, Homewood and Midlothian, ComEd said.

The Chicago area was under a wind advisory most of the day, and the weather was unseasonably warm, reaching a high of 69 degrees.

The winds were expected to calm and the temperature to drop Sunday evening.

The National Weather Service warned Chicagoans to brace for an incoming cold front that could bring rain to the city and snow or sleet to the suburbs overnight and highs in the 30s on Monday.

Once the temperatures drop, they’ll stay there for a couple of days, according to the weather service, but the snow is not expected to accumulate.

The forecast calls for a blustery and colder Monday, with temperatures in the mid-30s; snow flurries during the day, and lows in the upper 20s at night. On Tuesday and Wednesday, high temperatures were expected to be in the mid- to upper 40s.

At the Harrison-Dever crib on Lake Michigan, 51 mph winds were reported at 11:45 a.m., according to the weather service.

On land, a 48 mph wind was recorded at noon in Palatine.

In Joliet, a 46 mph wind was recorded at 11 a.m., and in northwest suburban Harwood Heights, a 45 mph wind recorded at 12:49 p.m.

A 41 mph wind gust was recorded at 11:44 a.m. at Midway Airport, according to the weather service.