Weather alert: Gusts up to 40 mph forecast for Tri-Cities

A windstorm could send Christmas decorations flying and scatter fallen leaves across neighborhoods Friday and Saturday.

A wind advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday for the Tri-Cities and much of southeast Washington and part of northeast Oregon.

The timing of the storm has been difficult to pin down, but the weather service expects wind gusts to peak at 40 mph in the Tri-Cities Friday night.

Gusts could reach 32 mph Friday afternoon and again on Saturday, before calming to 22 mph Saturday night and 20 mph Sunday.

Sustained wind speeds of 21 to 23 mph are forecast for Friday night, dropping to 16 to 18 mph Saturday.

The wind will be strong enough that a few power outages could occur in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties, according to the weather service.

A warm front moving across the region is expected to bring not only wind, but higher temperatures and more rain.

Friday night could be dry but a 30% chance of rain is forecast Saturday night, increasing to 60% Sunday.

More rain is likely through Wednesday.