Thunderstorms, ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph are set to return to northeastern Colorado Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The biggest threat of severe weather lies along the Eastern Plains between Weld County and the Colorado-Kansas border, NWS forecasters said in a hazardous weather outlook.

Afternoon storms are expected to hit the plains around 3 p.m., forecasters said. Severe weather is more likely in the afternoon, but the threat of hail and damaging winds continues through the evening.

Despite stronger storms over the plains, strong wind gusts will be possible for all areas, including the urban corridor and mountains, forecasters said.

The metro area will see temperature highs around 93 degrees and a 30% chance of afternoon rain showers and thunderstorms, according to NWS forecasters. Rain is most likely to fall over Denver between 3 p.m. and midnight.

Temperatures in the city will fall to 59 degrees overnight Friday before climbing up to a high of 83 degrees Saturday, forecasters said. Saturday remains the only day on the foreseeable forecast with a high below 90 degrees.

Wet, stormy weather will continue this weekend across the Front Range and Eastern Plains, according to the hazardous weather outlook. Rain is expected to start after noon on both Saturday and Sunday and wrap up around midnight.

A gradual drying trend is expected next week, with slight chances of brief afternoon rain showers and thunderstorms, the outlook stated.

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Originally Published: June 28, 2024 at 7:29 a.m.