Thunderstorms moving through Colorado’s mountains could bring heavy rain, large hail and wind gusts to parts of the south metro and Interstate 25 corridor on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Storms are expected to mainly impact the Palmer Divide and communities along and south of Interstate 70, with isolated severe hail and wind gusts possible, forecasters said in a hazardous weather outlook Saturday morning.
More severe thunderstorms are forecast for southern Colorado into the I-25 corridor, NWS officials said.
“The strongest storms will be capable of 1.5 inch diameter hail, damaging wind gusts near 60 mph and locally heavy rainfall,” forecasters wrote.
Whether the storms move farther east will depend on how the weather develops today.
“Stagnant” weather in the north metro could cause unhealthy air quality on Saturday for people who are sensitive to pollution, state officials said in an air quality alert for the Front Range urban corridor.
An ozone action day alert is in effect through the end of the day and people who are very active or have lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy exercise, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
