Risk of severe storms increases on Thursday

A spring storm system will bring a risk of thunderstorms Thursday night and early Friday morning across the Midwest. A few storms could be severe.

A cold front pushing across the Midwest from the Plains toward the northern Ohio Valley will bring several bursts of storms starting Thursday afternoon. These bursts will occur in several waves lasting until early Friday morning, with storms potentially affecting the same region and increasing the risk of flash flooding, particularly from western Pennsylvania to central Illinois.

The WeatherRadar shows some storms early Thursday morning over central-eastern Illinois, moving through Ohio. However, the risk of storms with wider coverage and greater intensity will begin affecting Chicago on Thursday starting late in the evening rush hour. As they move east-southeast, they will spread to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Indianapolis, possibly reaching as far south as St. Louis overnight. The greatest risk will be for large hail, with a diameter of at least 2 inches, and destructive winds of at least 58 mph.

Make sure you have at least three ways to receive weather alerts and follow safety guidelines. On Thursday, it would be a good idea to park your vehicle indoors, and when storms are passing through, stay away from windows and doors.