The Chicago area can expect showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be severe, Thursday night. The entire area remains under a tornado watch until 10 p.m., with the threat of large hail and gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service.

The Storm Prediction Center has most of Chicagoland in a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) on Friday, but areas south of I-80 are in the Slight Risk (level 2 of 5). The timeframe to watch for strong to severe storms ahead of Friday's cold front will be from 3 p.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. Damaging winds and hail will be the primary threats.

A weeklong severe weather threat continues on Thursday as millions of people in major Midwest cities like Chicago and Milwaukee brace for powerful storms that could pack very large hail, hurricane-force wind gusts and strong tornadoes.

The weather service’s Inability to keep up with current storms and potential loss of archived data is worrisome, hobbyists say.

The National Weather Service is warning of a threat for “significant severe weather” Thursday afternoon into the evening. Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour kicks off a three-night stand at Soldier Field Thursday night.

Storms are possible between 4 and 9 p.m., and large hail is the main threat, ABC7 Chicago meteorologists said. The tornado threat is low, but not zero. Much of the Chicago area is under a Level 3 threat of severe weather. The far south and southwest suburbs are under a Level 2 risk.

CHICAGO - It’s been a beautiful day across the Chicago area, with sunny skies and a wide range of temperatures. From the low 70s along the lakefront and at O’Hare and Midway, to the low 80s in our southwest counties, it certainly felt more like early summer than mid-May.