Colorado weather: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Denver area, Eastern Plains; ping-pong-ball hail possible
Afternoon thunderstorms could bring hail the size of ping-pong balls and 70 mph winds to eastern Colorado on Tuesday, including the Denver area, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Colorado and Nebraska, which will remain in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday. In Colorado, the watch covers Adams, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Crowley, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Pueblo, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld and Yuma counties.
Isolated hail up to the size of ping-pong balls will be possible, forecasters said. That’s roughly 1.5 inches in diameter, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, which is part of the same federal agency as the weather service. Hail an inch in diameter or larger is considered severe.
Winds exceeding 50 to 60 mph are also considered “damaging,” according to laboratory officials. Damage from severe thunderstorm winds accounts for half of all severe weather reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes, officials said.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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