Friday to bring heavy rain, flood, severe threat to the region

After a picture perfect Thursday, Mother Nature is going to pack a punch on Friday. There will likely be two distinct waves of rain and thunderstorms. 

The first will occur during the afternoon hours, likely between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. or so. Most everyone will see some rain and perhaps a few storms with this activity. The threat for heavy rain will exist, but severe weather is unlikely.

A few showers or storms are possible between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. before our second wave of rain and storms moves in closer to 11 p.m. or so.

This round has the potential to not only drop heavy rain, but produce a few stronger thunderstorms as well.

Widespread severe weather is not expected, but we could have just enough ingredients in place for a few damaging wind gusts and/or hail reports.

Most of the area falls under a level 1-of-5 "marginal risk" of severe weather according to the Storm Prediction Center. 

That is the lowest of risk categories, but should not be ignored. A noticeably higher risk of severe weather exists just to our west across parts of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. 

Those areas could see their level 2-of-5 "slight risk" upgraded to a level 3-of-5 "enhanced risk," according to the SPC.

Depending on how things evolve throughout the day, our strong storm threat could either be upped a bit, or be completely washed away. As of Thursday evening, there is at least a small chance of severe weather between 10 p.m. Friday evening and 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

If we don't see severe weather, we still have a pretty good shot at seeing a soaking rain. Between the two rounds of rain and storms, parts of Michiana could see 1-3" of rainfall by Saturday morning.

Not everyone will see that much rain, but most of us should record at least 1/2". 

If the higher totals of 2-3" are realized, there would be at least a small threat of flooding and flash flooding even with our ground and soils being on the drier side.