The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 24 central and eastern Colorado counties until 11:00 p.m.

Storms are forming over the mountains and moving eastward onto the plains, bringing the threat of large hail and strong winds. Hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter will be possible. Wind gusts between 70 miles per hour are possible, and flash flooding can occur with heavy rains.

Counties covered by the watch include

• Adams
• Arapahoe
• Baca
• Bent
• Boulder
• Broomfield
• Cheyenne
• Crowley
• Denver
• Douglas
• Elbert
• El Paso
• Jefferson
• Kiowa
• Kit Carson
• Larimer
• Las Animas
• Lincoln
• Morgan
• Otero
• Prowers
• Pueblo
• Washington
• Weld

Once the watch is lifted, thunderstorm activity is expected to continue into the night, gradually decreasing by Sunday morning.

After days of 100+ degree temperatures, Sunday’s highs are only expected to reach the mid-80s across the eastern half of Colorado, with some northern counties predicted to be in the upper 70s.

Thunderstorm activity returns Sunday afternoon into the late evening hours.

Portions of southern Wyoming are also under the thunderstorm watch.

Weather information updated throughout the day is available at http://weather.KiowaCountyPress.net.