Tracking the possibility of strong storms this afternoon

THIS AFTERNOON: A cluster of thunderstorms in the early afternoon will carry a low risk of damaging winds, and possibly a brief spin-up tornado through 3 p.m. Storms lingering toward I-44 in the late afternoon will continue to carry these risks until sunset. Most will see heavy rain, with scattered rumbles of thunder and lightning. Temperatures remain warm in the upper 50s and low 60s under the rain. Storms begin to dwindle by sunset, with the severe risk ending by 7 p.m.

TONIGHT: A few showers and weak storms are possible early overnight, before rain fully comes to an end after midnight. Temperatures remain in the 50s through the first half of the night, then fall to the 40s by early tomorrow.

EXTENDED: Northwest winds and cloudy skies keep us cool on Friday, with temperatures dwelling in the 40s all day. A quick round of light rain will move through late Friday night into Saturday, and a few snow flurries may mix in with temperatures close to freezing. We'll mostly stay on the warmer side of the freezing mark, though, and no accumulations are expected. Rain totals from Thursday's storms and Friday night's rain will reach a half inch to an inch or more across the area. Sunshine returns for the weekend, with more seasonal temperatures for early January in the 40s.