Does a tight pressure gradient at the surface mean that winds aloft will be weak?

Or can a tight pressure gradient at surface (which creates fast surface winds) still correspond to strong winds aloft?Does a tight pressure gradient at the surface mean that winds aloft will be weak?
Tight pressure gradients always mean strong wind, on surface or aloft. As a rule of thumb, seafarers say that if the barometer falls 10 millibars in 8 hours, a gale wind will certainly come.





Because of the drag induction of the surface, the wind aloft is always stronger. I know and experience that very often since I fly my own light aircraft. If the wind at the airfield is say, 10 knots, it wouldn't be surprising to experience 30 knots at only 2,000 feet of altitude.