Los Angeles County is the focus of a wind advisory released at 1:59 a.m. on Thursday by the National Weather Service. The advisory is in effect until 10 p.m.

A windy and warmer day across Chicago as a storm threat develops after dark. Highs reach the upper 70s and lower 80s with the coolest readings along the lakefront. The record today at Chicago O'Hare is 81° in 2012.

Parts of the city had been urged to evacuate as a powerful system brought rain and snow up and down the state.

A powerful storm dropping drenching rain on flood-prone Southern California is raising concern among forecasters that it could produce a dangerous, widespread outbreak of tornadoes, damaging winds and fires along with a blizzard as it crosses the entire United States in the coming days.