Thursday's live blog: Large hail, tornadoes, gusts, heavy snow from Wisconsin to Texas

In this blog, you will easily follow along with what's happening at the moment. This blog was updated throughout the day Thursday with the latest information about the large storm system moving through the middle of the U.S. bringing heavy snow across the Great Lakes and rounds of severe storms for the Southern Plains and the Mississippi River Valley.

As the sun sets, there will be less known about the true damages these severe storms produced. We will be monitoring the aftermath of this severe weather event and bring you prompt updates tomorrow after sunrise and the daylight allows us to get better images, safely.

Storms will continue to move eastward. Although there could be some severe cells still moving over far eastern Texas, into Louisiana, the threat will gradually start to decrease. Make sure to follow the storms and have at least 3 ways of receiving weather alerts overnight.

On Friday the risk for isolated severe weather will be mainly focused from the Louisiana coast to Florida´s Panhandle.

As the sun sets new images of damage are starting to surface. Seems like there is extensive wind and hail damage across the Metroplex.

Severe storms have pushed away from the Metro areas over North Texas. The storms are moving east now of the Metroplex and have been developing more tornadic signs as they move just north of I-20. Tyler, Texas should be ready to receive the first round of strong and possibly severe storms within the next hour.

Severe storms have moved east of the Metroplex and much colder air has arrived. This means that the severe threat has diminished across North Texas. There is still a line of storms, not severe, developed just west of the main line with the severe storms. Some areas, like Duncanville, Texas are experiencing 3 inches per-hour rain rates!

A flash flood warning is in effect for Tarrant County as 2 to 3 inches of rain just fell and another 1 to 2 inches are possible. Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

Dallas, be ready for a light show and possibly large hail. Rain will continue to become more copious in the next few minutes.

The tornado warning has expired for Tarrant County. You can track the storms in our WeatherRadar.

Large hail is falling within the last hour across parts of North Texas. And a funnel cloud was spotted near Downtown Fort Worth. Shortly after being spotted, a tornado warning was issued for the tornadic storm moving east at about 30 mph. Please stay indoors if you are in the Metroplex area. Storms have a history of producing large hail and could produce tornadoes. You can track the storms in our WeatherRadar.

A tornado watch has been placed in effect for North Texas until 8 p.m. Thursday. Tornadoes are favorable to develop across the Metroplex area through Mc Alester, Okla.

Wintry precipitation affected northwest Texas Thursday morning, making roads dangerous at times. Our WeatherRadar shows clusters of thunderstorms moving toward North Texas and about to arrive in Wichita Falls. The storms are ahead of the cold front and will continue to develop numerous storms that could produce large hail and a few tornadoes. If you have not yet put your car under a roof or protecting it from the possibility of hail falling, please do so within the next hour. Conditions will quickly start to deteriorate soon.

The temperature gradient is significant. Between Amarillo and Wichita Falls, there are about 225 miles, and the temperature difference at 2 pm ET is almost 40 degrees!

A large low-pressure system with a strong cold front will sweep across the middle section of the nation increasing the threat of severe storms late Thursday into Friday across the Southern Plains. The northern sections of the storm will bring rounds of heavy snow for the Great Lakes area, where some cities could expect to receive up to 1 foot of snow.

The severe storms will start this afternoon as the cold front pushes east. There is the threat of 2-inch hail in diameter, a few tornadoes, damaging winds, and frequent lightning. Please remain indoors if you are near thunderstorms, in a safe place. Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, and nearby cities across North Texas have the highest risk for severe storms. Cities across central Texas like Auston and San Antonio are also at risk for severe storms but they will be more isolated.