Forecasters say some of the storms on Friday could pack a big punch, with heavy downpours, frequent lightning and damaging winds gusts.

A line of fast-moving storms prompted severe thunderstorm warnings in the Chicago area and ground stops at O'Hare and Midway airports. There were also reports of storm damage.

The Lehigh Valley is under a severe thunderstorm watch until Friday night while a heat advisory remains in effect.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Logan County until 4 p.m. Dangerous heat continues throughout the region with scattered storms possible for the next several days. A Heat Advisory continues for part of the region until 8 p.m. tonight. This includes Butler, Clinton, and Warren counties.

The Storms Prediction Center has placed portions of our entire area in a "slight" risk, or level 2. The SPC also has increased the risk of some damaging, straight-line winds Friday afternoon and evening, particularly from Worcester County and areas south-westward.

An Edmonton woman is recovering in hospital after being struck by lightning in west Edmonton Thursday as severe thunderstorms rolled across the city.

Downpours capable of triggering localized flash flooding will spread into parts of Louisiana and Texas to end the week. A budding tropical rainstorm may cause winds and fire risk to increase in Hawaii.