An active weather pattern continues to bring rounds of showers and potentially severe thunderstorms to the Chicago area, with heavy rain, warm temperatures and muggy conditions expected to linger into the weekend.

Severe thunderstorm warnings popped off in the greater Chicago area through the evening Thursday, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from the Windy City Smokeout.

The Chicago area could be in for multiple rounds of severe weather in coming days, with heavy rain, gusty winds and even tornadoes possible.

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The flood watch is in effect until 7 a.m. Friday for Cook County, the collar counties and the majority of northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service.

A number of weather alerts were issued for portions of the Chicago area on Thursday evening as thunderstorms trekked across the region.

Torrential rain flooded parts of the Chicago area last night, but cooler lake breezes and mostly dry weather return today before more storms arrive this weekend.

Scattered thunderstorms are moving through the Chicago area Thursday night. ABC7 meteorologists issued an AccuWeather Alert for Thursday and Friday. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch A Flood Watch is in effect for Cook,