A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for 23 counties along the Front Range and the Eastern Plains of Colorado this afternoon and evening.
Denver, Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties are included in the watch, as well as Bent, El Paso, Kiowa, Logan, Prowers, Washington, Crowley, Fremont, Las Animas, Morgan, Pueblo, Weld, Baca, Custer, Elbert, Huerfano, Lincoln, Otero and Teller.
The watch extends until 9 p.m.
The National Weather Service said that showers and thunderstorms are forming over the mountains and foothills and will move east over the southern metropolitan area, generally from Boulder south.
Forecasters said rainfall amounts are expected initially to be light but increase as the afternoon progresses.
Thunderstorms could bring brief heavy rain up to a quarter inch in 40 minutes along with hail and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
