Afternoon thunderstorms will bring severe hail, damaging winds and frequent lightning to parts of southeastern Colorado on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
A severe thunderstorm watch, which will be in effect until 9 p.m. Sunday, was issued for El Paso, Pueblo, Lincoln, Bent, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Otero, Crowley, Kit Carson and Prowlers counties, according to weather service forecasters.
Hail up to 2 inches in diameter, between the size of golf balls and tennis balls, and winds up to 70 mph are expected across the area, forecasters said.
The National Severe Storms Laboratory, which is part of the same federal agency as the weather service, considers hail at least 1 inch in diameter severe and non-tornado winds exceeding 50 mph damaging.
There will also be an elevated flash flood risk Sunday evening, especially on burn scars and in flood-prone areas, according to a hazardous weather outlook from the weather service.
That flood risk is higher along the Palmer Ridge and Eastern Plains, but a low flood threat remains active Sunday in Denver and the surrounding metro area, according to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources’ Flood Threat Bulletin.
Flood threats will worsen across the southern metro area and southeastern state on Monday and remain high through Wednesday, according to the bulletin. Monday is the most likely day for heavy rainfall, Colorado officials said.
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