paying the price for Wright and Pfleger

"Most of the rain we're seeing [early Friday morning] will stay off to the north, from Rockford through portions of Wisconsin," said Tim Halbach, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville. "The main show is going to be later this afternoon."

That's when warm southerly winds were expected to whip up thunderstorms that could bring drenching rains, hail and possibly tornadoes, Halbach said. "Pretty much everything can be expected," he said.