Tracking a few storms by early Thursday morning, severe threat Friday

TONIGHT: Mild with increasing clouds and gusty winds. Storms developing before daybreak could bring brief heavy rain and small hail. Lows in the mid-50s.

TOMORROW: Morning storms followed by partial cloud cover and gusty winds. Highs in the upper 70s.

EXTENDED: As a warm front continues to work north tonight, scattered storms develop as low level winds ramp up from the southwest overnight and enhance moisture along the front. Some of those storms could produce brief heavy rain and small hail, pushing out of the area by late morning or early afternoon. We'll be left with gusty winds and highs in the upper 70 to near 80. Friday is even warmer ahead of a cold front as high temperatures reach near 80. As instability increases along the front, we could see strong storms with large hail and gusty winds develop, eventually being embedded in more widespread rainfall by Friday night. The cold front looks to stall to our south, providing a focal point for more rounds of rain and a few storms. The most widespread rainfall will come on Saturday with very little dry time and much cooler temperatures as highs reach near 60. We'll see scattered showers and a few storms with a severe threat near I-44 on Easter Sunday. Rain amounts will range from 2-3" with isolated 4" amounts possible near the Lake and I-44 corridors. Rises on local rivers and tributaries are expected.