3 p.m.: Thunderstorms could drop half-inch hail over portions of El Paso County this afternoon, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service’s Pueblo office.

Large hail and winds up to 40 mph are possible through the west and central county, including in north Colorado Springs, Pikeview, Falcon and Ellicott, the agency said in posts on the social media site X.

People should seek shelter in a sturdy structure during the storm.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Original story: Thunderstorms and rain showers will douse Denver Wednesday afternoon before warmer, drier weather returns the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Chances of heavy rain and small hail are largest between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, but the Denver area could see rain anytime beginning in the afternoon and continuing overnight, NWS forecasters said.

Evening rain showers are expected to hover in the metro area along and south of Interstate 70, and the wet weather is expected to keep temperatures lower than earlier in the week, forecasters said.

Denver will see partly sunny weather and a high temperature of 68 degrees Wednesday that will dip down to an overnight low of 46 degrees, according to NWS meteorologists.

The metro area will see sunny weather with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s through the rest of the week, forecasters said.

Warm temperatures, low relative humidity and breezy winds will elevate fire danger conditions across the plains Friday through Sunday, according to a NWS hazardous weather outlook.

Chances of thunderstorms also return over the weekend for the Denver area alongside the threat of high winds, forecasters said.

Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.