Southeast Michigan faces the highest risk with downbursts capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 MPH and the potential for localized flooding from slow-moving storms.

Damaging winds and hail so large it could cause injury to people and animals and damage buildings was expected with the storms.

Heavy rain is in the forecast for Chicago on Friday night, but an earlier threat of severe weather has significantly diminished. A tornado watch had been in effect for most of the Chicago area until 11 p.m., but it was canceled around 9:30 p.m.

An updated severe thunderstorm warning was released by the NWS Blacksburg VA on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in effect until 5:30 p.m. for Surry County.

The NWS Blacksburg VA issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 4:02 p.m. on Saturday in effect until 5 p.m. The warning is for Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties.

A strong thunderstorm rolled into metro Denver on Thursday afternoon and was expected to bring wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The first severe thunderstorm warnings were issued northwest of Chicago, with a warning in place for southwestern McHenry County until 6:45 p.m. A storm was first located along a line from Poplar Grove Lake to Cherry Valley, moving east at 25 mph. Fifty-cent piece-sized hail and 60 mph wind gusts were associated with the storm.

The NWS Raleigh NC released a severe thunderstorm warning at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday in effect until 4:45 p.m. for Forsyth County.

Sunshine will stick around into the end of the weekend on Sunday, and we will keep a little cloud cover around as well behind the cold front that moves through Saturday late night. High temperature is cooling down just a bit, will drop into the middle 80s by the end of the weekend on Sunday.