Midwest Storms Bring Sharp Cooldown

A fall weather system is bringing rain and gusty winds across parts of the Midwest, with strong thunderstorms possible Thursday afternoon in central Illinois; damaging wind gusts are the main concern, and most areas are expected to receive less than an inch of rain. The system will bring a sharp cooldown, with Friday highs generally in the 50s and brisk northwest winds. Frost is possible Saturday morning in parts of Illinois and Minnesota, while rain may provide some relief to the Twin Cities, which remain in severe drought. Sunny, seasonably cool weekend weather is expected, followed by drier conditions and a gradual warmup next week, with some areas forecast to reach near or above 70 degrees.