It would be a wise idea to secure or bring inside loose outdoor items and charge your electronic devices in case the power fails.

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The highest winds in the region are expected in northern Maryland and in the mountains to the west and northwest, especially along ridge tops, where 60 mph gusts are reasonably likely.

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This wind storm will not be as severe as the one on March 2 roughly a year ago. That storm unleashed 50-plus mph gusts for 12 hours or more across the region (including a 71 mph gust at Dulles), scores of trees fell, power was cut to several hundred thousand customers, and many school systems closed. On balance, winds will be about 10 mph less for this event, with typical gusts in the 40- to 50-mph range rather than 50 to 60 mph.

The National Weather Service has issued the following advisories and warnings for wind through Monday:

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An initial wind advisory from 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday for sustained winds of up to 20 to 30 mph and gusts to 50 mph for most of the region.

A second wind advisory from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday for sustained winds up to 25 to 35 mph and gusts to 50 mph for most of the region.

high wind warning through 1 p.m. Monday for sustained winds up to 30 to 40 mph and gusts to 60 mph for northern Maryland.

During the overnight period from 10 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Monday, an advisory is not in effect for most of the region, but gusts up to 40 mph are possible.

If you know you have trees that are dying or are vulnerable to falling, consider sleeping in the lowest level Sunday night as a precaution. Also, think about where you park your car and whether it is near a tree that could fall.

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Winds will initially come from the southwest on Sunday afternoon, before coming more from the west on Sunday night and the northwest on Monday.

It is generating a huge area of strong winds from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, and 50 mph or stronger gusts are projected to affect over 100 million people in the Lower 48. More than 95 million Americans are under high wind warnings.