A cold front is expected to move through the region Thursday afternoon accompanied by scattered showers and thunderstorms.

“Some of these thunderstorms will have the potential to become severe,” said National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologist Donald Jones. ” Damaging straight-line winds will be the highest threat, but tornadoes and large hail will also be possible.”

Jones said there is also a marginal risk of flash flooding.

“Showers and thunderstorms will spread across the region in response to the cold front,” Jones said. “Additional rain falling over saturated grounds will have the potential to cause flash flooding and exacerbate ongoing river flooding.”

The timing of the weather event is about 6 p.m. Thursday and it could last through about 6 a.m. Friday.