Chance of severe weather in the forecast as cold front moves through Friday

14581599-largePASCAGOULA, Mississippi (AP) — An approaching cold front will trigger some overnight thunderstorms that will linger through Friday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

There is an 80 percent chance of rain early Friday morning, mainly after 1 a.m.

A 70 percent chance of thunderstorms is in the forecast until about 11 a.m. then there’s a 60 percent chance until about 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

There is a 40 percent chance of rain on Saturday.

Sunday and Monday should be sunny and clear with highs in the lower 70s.

Nationally, the NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening for parts of the southern U.S., mainly across the Gulf Coast and Lower-Mississippi Valley. Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats, though a few tornadoes are also possible. The severe weather threat will shift to the Southeast and lower-mid Atlantic on Saturday.