According to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman, Friday morning's rain will be the first of two stormy waves to hit the Chicago area. The first round was expected to move mostly across northern Illinois and impact far north and west counties, along with areas in southeastern Wisconsin.

At 7:29 p.m. EST on Friday, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 8:30 p.m. EST for Shiawassee County.

Scientists have shown that lightning-like bursts can be recreated in small blocks of solid materials in the lab.

Waves of strong to severe thunderstorms with lots of lightning, heavy downpours, hail and strong winds loomed over the Chicago forecast Friday, the NBC 5 Storm Team said, with the first round expected to hit during part of the morning rush hour commute.

On Friday at 6:23 p.m. EST a severe thunderstorm warning was released by the National Weather Service in effect until 7 p.m. EST for Berrien and Cass counties.

At 2:39 p.m. on Friday, the National Weather Service issued an updated severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 3:15 p.m. for Geneva and Houston counties.

Powerful thunderstorms swept across the Dallas–Fort Worth area in Texas, lighting up the night sky with dramatic lightning strikes. Ground-level footage captures heavy rain, flashing lightning, and the city skyline.

A weather alert was issued by the NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC on Friday at 3:07 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 3:45 p.m. for McDowell Mountains and Eastern McDowell.

The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 3:40 p.m. on Thursday for strong thunderstorms until 4:15 p.m. for Henry and Houston counties.

Lightning formation and the conditions triggering it have long been shrouded in a cloud of mystery, but new research led by Penn State scientists is lifting the fog. Using mathematical calculations, the researchers have discovered that lightning-like discharge doesn't require a storm cloud—it could be made inside everyday material on a lab bench.