Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for parts of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois
In some areas, the wind gusts might top 70 mph, and some hail could grow larger than 2 inches in diameter
Storms likely across Northern Illinois Saturday
The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded Saturday's severe risk to include a section of Northern Illinois and parts of Missouri and Iowa for storms that are likely to become severe.
A cold front moving through the nation's heartland will deliver relief the heat but will also help to kick off scattered showers and thunderstorms over the weekend.
Typical of summer, any storm will have the chance of turning strong or severe and could produce gusty winds and large hail.
Storms will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall and plenty of lightning.
Happening now:
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for eastern Iowa, northeastern Missouri and much of Illinois until midnight.
Meteorologists warn storms have the potential of producing wind gusts up to 75 mph and large hail.
(FOX Weather)
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(FOX Weather)
Saturday
Severe storms are likely across northern Illinois and portions of Iowa and Missouri Saturday. Strong to severe thunderstorms could impact a corridor from northern and western Illinois southwestward across parts of the mid-Mississippi Valley and into the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles late Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.
A few storms will pose the risk of damaging wind gusts and hail.
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Sunday
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible from parts of the middle and upper Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes region late Sunday afternoon and Saturday evening.
Damaging wind gusts are the main threat with the strongest storms.
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