Overview
- A tornado watch issued Monday covers Denver metro and 12 eastern Plains counties through 9 p.m., the National Weather Service in Boulder said.
- Forecasters warned an afternoon-to-evening window of severe weather with supercell thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail, with NWS estimates showing some areas could see 3+ inch hail.
- Multiple short-duration severe thunderstorm warnings affected Denver-area communities in the afternoon with threats of up to about 60–75 mph wind gusts and hail ranging from quarter-size to softball-size.
- The dangerous setup stems from daytime heating, Gulf moisture and atmospheric instability along slow-moving boundaries, which can create repeating storms and concentrated pockets of extreme hail that damage vehicles and roofs.
- Residents should monitor NWS products and local radar, seek sturdy shelter during warnings, and be prepared for rapidly changing watches and warnings through the evening.