Departing high pressure will help turn our local winds from the south overnight through Thursday morning. The south winds will help increase moisture and aid in causing unsettledness. We'll reach the height of rain and storms chances Thursday afternoon as a potent cold front moves into the region from west to east, clashing into the moisture and relative warmth and producing areas of rain and storms. The wind forces will help enhance chances for strong wind gusts as the boundary progresses eastward in the afternoon and evening. Along and just ahead of the line, a slight chance for an isolated tornado exists.
Rain totals should be one inch or less in most cases. Storm wind gusts may reach 60 to 70 mph in the strongest storms. Coastal and western areas will be more susceptible to initial severe weather chances Thursday afternoon, which gradually decrease in potential by evening.
The frontal system will begin to exit the region to the east by late Thursday. Colder and breezy conditions are forecast for Friday with more sunshine.
