Last half of the week - Wind storm comes with winter air mass

Damaging gusts greater than 40 mph will be blowing across the Plains starting Thursday as a winter air mass digs deeper south.

Power outages, downed trees/limbs and blown objects are some of the impacts that come with these high wind events. But they can also fuel wildfire spread and even knock over a high-profile vehicle with gusts as 'calm' as 30 mph!

As a deep low-pressure trough drops into the U.S. over the next couple of days, it will not only bring wintry temperatures as far south as the Gulf Coast, but also damaging wind gusts, especially in the northern and central Plains.

Thursday is just the preview when it comes to this wind event. The WindRadar shows the highest gusts across northeast Montana and western North Dakota, reaching into the 40-50 mph range. By Friday, the event peaks.

Wind gusts are expected to be up to 70 mph in the High and northern Plains. Places near and around Rapid City, S.D., Alliance and Valentine, Neb., as well as Cheyenne, Wyo., will see the most damaging gusts.