Batten down the hatches and be on the guard for downed tree branches and runaway trash can lids as you travel to work.

A National Weather Service wind advisory is in effect ‪until 4 p.m. today for Butler County and most of Western Pennsylvania.

Steady southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are predicted through the morning and well into the afternoon with gusts between 40 and 50 mph.

The weather service in Pittsburgh notes that its advisory means winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for so-called “high profile vehicles” and lightweight cars.

Power outages are also possible. As of ‪7 a.m.‬, wind-caused damage in Butler County has been minimal, say emergency crews and county dispatchers.

West Penn Power officials report only two current outages in the county. One is in Connoquenessing Township in the area of Shannon and Welsh roads, where a tree apparently fell on a power line.

The other outage is in Forward Township east of Needle Point Road.