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2021-09-23 02:30:02

Cooler weather is landing right on cue for the first day of autumn. But first, the system delivering the cooler temps will soak the eastern third of the country, bring strong winds and 10 to 18-foot waves on some of the Great Lakes.

A strong storm system is forecast to develop Wednesday and strengthen into Thursday across the Midwest. Winds will begin to howl in parts of Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

Winds gusting to 50 mph could generate towering wave heights of 10 to 15 feet in the southwest parts of Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

On the southwest shores of Lake Michigan, 40 mph gusts near Chicago could generate waves as high as 16 feet through Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago.

"These large waves combined with above-average lake levels will result in beach erosion, extremely dangerous conditions at the lakefront, as well as minor lakeshore flooding," the weather service says.

In addition, there is the possibility of damaging severe thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes over parts of Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania Wednesday.