Update: At 2:41 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service issue a severe thunderstorm watch until 9:00 p.m. for all of Colorado's eastern plains.

Forecasters have upgraded the severe weather threat for Friday evening across the southeast Colorado plains. In an afternoon update, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center placed Eads, Cheyenne Wells and Lamar in a slight risk for severe storms, level 2 of 5 — a step up from the marginal risk issued this morning — as scattered thunderstorms forming over the higher terrain push east into a more unstable airmass. Large hail and damaging wind are the main threats, with a low tornado chance.

Storms are expected to develop along the mountains and the Interstate 25 corridor through the afternoon and spread onto the plains by late afternoon and evening, before clearing into Kansas after midnight. The strongest storms could begin as supercells capable of large to very large hail, then congeal into a wind threat overnight. This article was updated Friday afternoon, June 26, and conditions may continue to change.

At a glance: Friday evening's severe weather risks

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center Day 1 outlook (1630 UTC update) and National Weather Service offices in Pueblo and Goodland — issued the afternoon of June 26, 2026. Times are Mountain.

(Kiowa County Press)

What the Storm Prediction Center is saying

In its afternoon outlook, the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., expanded a slight risk for severe storms, level 2 of 5, across the southeast Colorado plains, including Eads, Cheyenne Wells and Lamar, with a marginal risk over surrounding areas. Forecasters pointed to increasing wind shear and a more unstable airmass building over the plains behind morning clearing — enough to support a few organized storms, including supercells, with large hail and strong winds the primary hazards into the evening.

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, said storms developing over the mountains and the I-25 corridor would spread east onto the plains by late afternoon and early evening. Forecasters singled out the area north of Highway 50 in Kiowa, Prowers and Bent counties, where southeasterly surface winds were expected to strengthen low-level wind shear: there, hail to 1.5 inches and wind gusts over 65 mph are possible, along with a low tornado threat. Elsewhere on the plains, stronger storms could still produce nickel-size hail and gusts of 50 to 55 mph. Storms should track into Kansas after midnight.

The Goodland, Kan., office, which covers Cheyenne, Kit Carson and Yuma counties, said clearing skies over eastern Colorado were allowing the atmosphere to destabilize, with storms expected to fire along the Front Range in the late afternoon and move east across the plains toward the Kansas border in the evening. Forecasters there said the initial storms in Colorado would likely be supercells capable of large to very large hail, damaging wind and a brief tornado, before shifting to mainly a wind threat as they moved into more stable air after dark.

Potential impacts

The main hazards Friday evening are large hail and damaging wind. Hail of an inch to an inch and a half — and locally larger under the strongest supercells — can dent vehicles, break windows and damage roofs, siding and crops. Wind gusts over 65 mph can snap tree limbs, blow branches onto power lines, briefly cut power and kick up sudden blowing dust that drops highway visibility with little warning. The tornado threat is low but not zero, so any rotating storm over the open plains should be watched closely. Brief heavy downpours are also possible with the stronger cells.

Fire weather and the days ahead

Behind Friday's storms, hot, dry and windy weather builds in for the weekend and into next week. The Pueblo office has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday across the mountains and the San Luis Valley, with a fire weather watch for Sunday, as humidity falls near 10 percent and southwest winds gust past 35 mph. Highs will climb into the 90s and around 100 on the plains. Recent rain has greened up grasses and may briefly temper fire danger on the eastern plains, but forecasters warn conditions will still be dangerous and urge caution with any outdoor burning.

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 rely on hearing an outdoor siren from indoors.

With large hail and damaging wind the main dangers, the safest place during any storm 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. As the dry, windy weekend arrives, avoid activities that could spark a grass fire. The latest watches, warnings and timing are available at weather.gov.