The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for today and tonight in northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, east central New York and southern Vermont. Strong southerly gradient winds will gust up to 40 mph throughout the day, especially across the Mohawk Valley, greater Capital District and elevated terrain. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front that will move through the area tonight. A few of the showers and/or thunderstorms could produce localized wind gusts up to 50 mph.