A severe weather threat continues this week in Southwest Louisiana with an heightened risk for tornadoes.

The strong weather is expected to build in from the west Thursday afternoon, spreading east into Thursday night. By midnight and into noon Friday, severe storms are expected to become more numerous and could last into the early evening hours.

All modes of severe weather will be possible — including large hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.

“The main threat, at this time, is tornadoes while the greatest risk area is still along and west of U.S. 171.,” reports the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office.

Rainfall totals could be up to 3 inches.