Colorado’s overcast skies will turn into widespread rain across metro Denver with a chance of severe thunderstorms, large hail and a tornado on the Eastern Plains, National Weather Service forecasters said Monday.
Rain will start falling on the Front Range and Eastern Plains at around 3 p.m., increasing to an 80% or greater chance of precipitation for communities from Longmont to Castle Rock and Breckenridge to Julesburg by 9 p.m., forecasters said Monday morning.
“A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening, especially across the far northeast plains,” forecasters with the NWS Boulder office wrote. “Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary threats, but a brief tornado will also be possible.”
A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for northeast Colorado until 8 p.m., with scattered egg-sized hail, wind gusts up to 75 mph and frequent lightning possible in Weld, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick and Washington counties, agency officials said.
Another severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the Eastern Plains until 10 p.m., with isolated spurts of egg-sized hail, widespread wind gusts up to 85 mph and frequent lightning possible in Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Otero, Prowers and Yuma counties, forecasters with the NWS Pueblo office said.
The storms could also bring heavy rainfall that could cause minor flooding, according to the agency.
More than an inch of rain is possible in some areas, including the foothills of Jefferson County and south metro Denver into the Palmer Divide, while neighborhoods north of Denver will see lighter rain.
Ping-pong-ball-size hail and winds near 70 mph are possible in southeast Colorado as the storm moves across the state, forecasters with the NWS Pueblo office said. Higher elevations could see half-inch hail and winds near 55 mph.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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