Severe storms threaten Chicago and central US with damaging winds and tornadoes.

New models used by the NBC 5 Storm Team indicate the potential for tornadic activities within severe storms that are expected to hit the Midwest, including the Chicago area, on Friday. The storms could bring damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours, with the possibility of locally-fierce wind gusts caused by a "bowing" of the lines of thunderstorms. Forecasters warn that any tornadoes that do touch down during the storms could be "rain-wrapped," meaning that they may not be readily visible as they move across the ground.