Weather alert. Storms — some severe — coming Friday with rainy weekend expected

The last thing weather weary northern Ohio needs is another round of storms and potentially flooding rain.

The National Weather Service says rain will start as early as Thursday night and continue all the way through Monday.

"Periods of showers and thunderstorms are expected Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon," the weather service says. "A few of these storms may be strong to severe with isolated damaging wind gusts and large hail possible."

Weather news: Summit County makes case for federal disaster declaration after Aug. 8 flood

The arrival of more rain and storms could further aggravate the clean up from storms last week that first brought damaging winds and even five tornadoes that damaged homes, toppled trees and knocked out power to some 400,000 FirstEnergy customers.

A couple days later torrential rain fell across parts of Summit County dropping anywhere from 2 to 7 inches in places like Akron and Cuyahoga Falls flooding homes and damaging businesses.

The rainy weather could put a damper on big community events in Greater Akron this weekend including PorchRokr in Highland Square and the Props and Pistons air show at the Akron-Fulton Airport.

Drought continues in parts of northern Ohio

The storms and pounding rain of last week were still not enough to wipe out the drought in northern Ohio.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says the area impacted by drought conditions has shrunk some in Summit, Portage, Wayne and Medina counties but there still are areas that are considered to be "abnormally dry" and could use more rain to help crops and replenish ponds and lakes.

Roughly 60 percent of Ohio is suffering from drought conditions with extreme the southern and eastern area of the state the driest and in need of a soaking rain.

What's the Akron weather forecast?

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday night: A chance of showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 83. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 p.m. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. High near 78. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 p.m. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night: A chance of thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Weather alert. Storms — some severe — coming Friday with rainy weekend expected