Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
The day of the Lord is at hand - the day of His vengeance on Babylon (Isaiah 2:12). Type of the future "great day of His wrath" (Revelation 6:17).
It shall come as a destruction - literally, a devastating tempest; Hebrew, Shod.
From the Almighty - not from mere man; therefore irresistible: "Almighty." There is a play on similar sounds: Hebrew, Shod (H7701), Shaday (H7706).