Colorado Weather: 'Very Large Hail,' Damaging Winds Possible

BOULDER, CO — Much of Colorado was under a hazardous weather outlook Tuesday, as part of the state expects to see "very large hail and damaging winds."

The National Weather Service warned that severe thunderstorms with large hail and strong winds were possible Tuesday across parts of northeast and north-central Colorado. However, the weather service noted there's "considerable uncertainty" when it comes to severe weather, but said the eastern plains and Palmer Divide area (roughly along and east of a line from Fort Morgan to Kiowa) were at the most risk.

"It's not impossible that a couple severe storms could develop as far west as the I-25 Corridor and Denver metro area," the weather service said.

Additionally, hail could be about 2 inches in diameter and winds could reach 70 mph in the strongest storms.

"There is just a low risk of a tornado," the weather service said.

Coloradans can expect storms to develop between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and they could linger until 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Accuweather projected partly sunny skies Tuesday for Boulder and Denver, with temperatures in the 70s Tuesday. On Wednesday, Accuweather projected temperatures to dip to the 50s, with cloud cover much of the day.

The weather service gave Boulder a 20 percent chance to see showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Tuesday, but expected mostly sunny skies with a high near 78 degrees. The agency also gave Denver a 20 percent chance to see showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

Here are the counties affected by the hazardous weather outlook

• Jackson county below 9,000 feet
• West Jackson and west Grand counties above 9,000 feet
• Grand and Summit counties below 9,000 feet
• South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/Northwest Boulder counties above 9,000 feet
• South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park counties above 9,000 feet
• Larimer and Boulder counties between 6,000 and 9,000 feet
• Jefferson and West Douglas counties above 6,000 feet/Gilpin/ClearCreek/Northeast Park counties below 9,000 feet
• Central and Southeast Park county
• Larimer County below 6,000 feet/Northwest Weld County
• Boulder and Jefferson counties below 6,000 feet/West Broomfield County
• North Douglas County below 6,000 feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe counties/East Broomfield County
• Elbert/Central and East Douglas counties above 6,000 feet
• Northeast Weld County
• Central and South Weld County
• Morgan County
• Central and East Adams and Arapahoe counties
• North and Northeast Elbert County below 6,000 feet/North Lincoln County
• Southeast Elbert County below 6,000 Feet/South Lincoln County
• Logan County
• Washington County
• Sedgwick County
• Phillips County