On the heels of strong thunderstorms and some hail this past weekend, another round of strong to severe weather is possible late Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.

Intense severe storms will threaten nearly 50 million people beginning Thursday afternoon across parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley with hail, damaging wind gusts and possibly tornadoes, as a cold front sweeps through the region leaving frigid winter-like temperatures in its wake.

Large hail, straight-line winds and tornadoes all are possible Thursday in Southeast Michigan under a severe weather threat.

Severe thunderstorms, some of which could spin up isolated tornadoes, will sweep across at least three states later this week.

The Chicago area will see an “active weather day” Thursday, as a powerful cold front causes a rapid temperature drop and the chance for severe weather with large, damaging hail and the possibility for tornadoes.

The primary concern would be damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph, along with the potential for large hail over an inch in diameter. There’s also a low-end, but not zero, tornado risk.

The area is bracing for a severe weather threat on Thursday, spurred by the warm, humid air entering the region. The chances of hail storms and damaging wind are high, with a slightly lower risk of tornadoes occurring.

A powerful weather system that was sweeping across the Eastern United States on Monday disrupted travel and school and brought the potential for widespread storms and even tornado