Weather alert: Severe storms and soaking rain possible across northern Ohio on Friday

Rain and some storms are expected Friday across northern Ohio.

The National Weather Service says there's a chance some of these storms could be severe.

The biggest risk is large hail and damaging wind gusts in some storms.

Soaking rain − as much as an inch in some spots − is also possible on Friday into Saturday.

The culprit, the weather service says, is a particularly "potent" cold front that is expected to cross Ohio on Friday.

This will result in a chilly weekend with highs in the 60s on Saturday and 70s on Sunday.

The temperatures are expected to heat up once again starting Monday.

When will storms and rain arrive?

The weather service says the biggest risk for strong and severe storms is between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday.

The best chance for storms in Greater Akron is after 5 p.m.

Showers and a few storms are possible Friday evening during the high school football games.

The chance of showers and storms continues on Saturday before the sun and another dry spell arrives Sunday.

What's the forecast?

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 83. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 p.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Low around 52. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 7 to 10 mph.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

Monday night: Clear, with a low around 51.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.

Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89.

Check Akron weather hourly

Need to know weather conditions by the hour? Make sure to check out our weather page here .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Weather alert: Severe storms and soaking rain possible across northern Ohio on Friday