As of about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect for much of the eastern Colorado plains — including Kiowa, Cheyenne and Prowers counties — until 5 a.m. MDT, as a round of overnight storms moved across the region. Forecasters expect the threat to renew later in the day, with the Storm Prediction Center placing the eastern plains in a slight risk for severe storms, level 2 of 5, and an enhanced risk, level 3, over the northeast corner of the state.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 386, issued overnight, covered the eastern plains into the pre-dawn hours for storms capable of hail to around two inches, wind gusts near 75 mph and an isolated tornado. Before daybreak, light rain and gusty southeast winds were reported at Lamar, and a thunderstorm was moving near Burlington. The watch was set to expire at 5 a.m.; any further watches would be issued as new storms develop through the day. This article was prepared early Wednesday morning, and conditions may change as the day unfolds.

At a glance: Wednesday's severe weather risks

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center Day 1 outlook and National Weather Service offices in Pueblo and Goodland — issued the morning of June 24, 2026. Times are Mountain.

(Kiowa County Press)

What the Storm Prediction Center is saying

In its Wednesday outlook, the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., placed the far northeast corner of Colorado — around Sterling and Fort Morgan — in an enhanced risk for severe storms, with a broader slight risk, level 2, covering most of the rest of the eastern plains, including Cheyenne Wells, Eads and Lamar. Forecasters said strong heating, steep mid-level lapse rates and very strong wind shear would support robust supercells over the northern High Plains capable of large to very large hail, with stones of 3 to 4 inches possible there and a tornado or two not ruled out. Farther south, over the southeast plains, higher cloud bases point to a more outflow-dominant storm mode, with damaging wind the main concern and some large hail also possible.

Timing and where the storms are most likely

The National Weather Service office in Pueblo, which covers the southeast plains including Kiowa, Prowers, Bent, Otero, Crowley and Baca counties, expects storms to blossom during the mid-afternoon and persist into the evening along and east of the Interstate 25 corridor. Forecasters there said that if the atmosphere mixes out, storms would be high-based and outflow-dominant, with strong winds to around 75 mph the main threat; if less mixing occurs, storms would be more cellular, with large hail to around 1 to 1.5 inches and winds to 70 mph. After a mostly cloudy start that clears through the day, the southeast plains look to see their next round of showers and storms Wednesday evening and overnight.

The Goodland, Kan., office, which covers Cheyenne, Kit Carson and Yuma counties, said discrete supercells capable of all hazards could develop over eastern Colorado in the afternoon before clustering into a complex overnight, with large to very large hail and damaging winds the primary threats and a brief tornado possible. Forecasters there also flagged a continued flooding concern, with slow-moving storms dropping heavy rain on ground already saturated by days of rain.

What happened Tuesday

Tuesday's severe weather in Colorado was almost entirely a hail story, and it set up along the Interstate 25 corridor and Front Range rather than out on the far eastern plains. The National Weather Service logged about two dozen hail reports across the state, the largest a 3-inch stone in Weld County, with 2.5-inch hail reported in El Paso County near Colorado Springs and northeast of Pueblo. Only a single severe wind gust — 58 mph in Weld County — was reported, and no tornadoes touched down in Colorado.

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Preliminary hail, wind and tornado reports across eastern Colorado on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

(Kiowa County Press)

As on recent days, the counties the Press follows most closely — Kiowa, Cheyenne and Prowers — saw little from Tuesday's storms, with the heaviest activity well to the west and north. Storms then returned to the eastern plains overnight, prompting the severe thunderstorm watch that was still in effect early Wednesday. All reports are preliminary and subject to National Weather Service review.

Potential impacts

The most likely impacts Wednesday are localized. Damaging wind is the leading concern on the southeast plains: gusts of 70 mph or higher can snap tree limbs, blow down branches onto power lines, briefly knock out electricity and kick up sudden blowing dust that drops highway visibility with little warning. Large hail — generally an inch to an inch and a half locally, but potentially 3 to 4 inches in the enhanced-risk area over northeast Colorado — can dent vehicles, break windows and damage roofs, siding and crops. The tornado threat is low and focused on the northeast, but any rotating storm should be watched closely over the open plains. Because storms are expected to move slowly, brief, heavy downpours could pond water on low-lying roads.

Fire weather and the days ahead

West of the storm threat, a red flag warning for critical fire weather is in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday over the San Luis Valley and upper Arkansas River Valley, where gusty winds and humidity in the low teens raise the wildfire risk. The unsettled, storm-prone pattern over the eastern plains is forecast to continue through Friday, with additional chances for strong to severe storms each afternoon and evening. Drier, much hotter weather then looks to build in for the weekend, when widespread critical fire weather is expected to return and highs climb well into the 90s and around 100 — near 99 at Eads and Cheyenne Wells and about 105 at Lamar on Saturday.

Staying safe

A severe thunderstorm or tornado watch means conditions are favorable for dangerous storms to develop over the next several hours — a signal to stay alert and know where you would take shelter. A warning means a dangerous storm is happening or imminent in your area, and you should act right away. Make sure you have a reliable way to receive warnings, such as a NOAA Weather Radio or alerts on your phone, and do not count on hearing an outdoor siren from indoors.

With damaging wind and hail the main dangers, the safest place is indoors, away from windows. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike, so stay inside until at least 30 minutes after the last rumble. Drivers should slow down in heavy rain, watch for sudden gusts and blowing dust, and never enter a flooded roadway. Before storms arrive, secure or bring in loose outdoor items, move vehicles under cover where possible, and check on neighbors, livestock and pets. The latest watches, warnings and timing are available at weather.gov.