UPDATE: Wind advisory for Central Texas extended to 6 a.m. Friday

4:05 p.m. update: The National Weather Service has extended its wind advisory for Central Texas until 6 a.m. Friday as a cold front sweeps through the region.

Forecasters say they are expecting the strongest winds to blow through the area on Thursday afternoon after the front arrives and to measure between 25 and 35 mph with gusts that could top 50 mph.

The winds could potentially blow over trash cans and loose lawn furniture and break small limbs on trees, meteorologists warn. Combined with low relative humidity, they will create critical fire weather conditions in the southern half of Central Texas, mainly south and west of Interstate 10. A Red Flag warning was in effect for those areas on Thursday afternoon.

The weather service is still calling for the possibility of snow across the northwest Hill Country on Thursday, most likely in Llano and Burnet counties, which could see up to an inch of accumulation on grassy and elevated surfaces. They say a mix of rain and snow could fall in other parts of the Hill County.

"Temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing so no widespread ice issues are expected," meteorologists said.

Austin is not expected to see any flurries, however forecasters are calling for a 40 percent chance of rain at night and 20 percent chance on Friday before noon.

The temperature is expected to drop to an overnight low of 42 degrees in the metro area, meteorologists said.

Earlier: A wind advisory will be in effect starting at 10 a.m. for much of Central Texas — including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Blanco and Burnet counties — until midnight, the National Weather Service said.

A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds of 35 mph are expected, forecasters said. The fierce northwest winds arriving in the Austin area in the afternoon could be as strong as 25 to 35 mph with gusts between 40 and 50 mph.

During a wind advisory, the weather service recommends using extra caution while driving on the open road, especially in a taller vehicle like a truck or SUV. Forecasters also urge residents in the affected area to secure loose objects in yards that could be blown around, such as lawn decorations and trash cans. Watch for small tree limbs breaking, which could lead to power outages or other damage.

Austin temperatures were expected to reach a seasonable daytime high of 65 degrees — as of 6 a.m., temperatures had already reached 61 at the city's main weather station at Camp Mabry. Rain chances ramp up to 40 percent after 7 p.m., forecasters said, with overnight temperatures dropping to as low as 40 degrees.

Although Austin could get light showers Thursday evening, parts of the Hill Country — including Llano, Blanco, Burnet, western and northern Williamson and western Travis counties — could see some snow mixed in with the rain, the weather service said. Trace amounts of snow could develop on grassy and elevated surfaces in Llano and Burnet County, forecasters said.

"With temperatures likely staying above freezing, road impacts are not anticipated at this time," the weather service said in a bulletin Thursday morning. "If the chances of accumulating snow increase, a winter weather advisory may need to be issued later today for the tonight period."

Meanwhile in Austin, the weather service's extended forecast calls for a continuation of the strong, gusty northwest winds and a few more chillier nights:

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers before 7 a.m., then mostly cloudy with a high near 52. Northwest winds at 15 to 20 mph with gusts as strong as 25 mph. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northwest winds persist at 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday: Sunny with a high near 61. North-northwest winds at 5 to 10 mph continue. Then mostly clear at night with a low around 39.

Sunday: Sunny with a high near 66. As northwest winds become warmer south-southeast breezes in the afternoon, they bring more clouds at night, when temperatures drop to around 44.

Monday: Mostly sunny with a high near 65. Partly cloudy at night with a low around 42.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a high near 64. Then a 20 percent chance of showers at night with a low around 46.