Denver weather blog: Flash flood watch in effect for Front Range

DENVER — Colorado's monsoon weather returns Tuesday with widespread thunderstorms expected to form in the higher elevations before spreading across the I-25 Corridor and through the plains.

Strong storms that form could produce rainfall up to 2 inches in 45 minutes, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder, triggering problems for the afternoon commute.

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Below, you can find updates related to traffic and weather as the storm moves through. Refresh this page for the latest.

5:20 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Eastern Adams County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 5:45 p.m. for a storm 6 miles southwest of Shamrock. The NWS said quarter-sized hail is possible with this storm.

4:20 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm 7 miles southwest of Natural Fort could bring wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail, according to the NWS. Northwest Weld and northeastern Larimer Counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning for this storm until 4:45 p.m.

4:17 p.m. | Hail threat in Last Chance | Golf ball sized-hail has been indicated by radar on a severe thunderstorm-warned storm 5 miles southwest of Last Chance, according to the NWS. The storm is moving north at 10 mph. The severe thunderstorm warning has been extended until 5:15 p.m.

4:09 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Northeast Arapahoe, southwest Washington, Southeastern Adams Counties are under severe thunderstorm warning until 4:30 p.m. for a storm 6 miles southwest of Last Chance. Quarter-sized hail is possible with this storm, the NWS said.

3:50 p.m. | Warning canceled | The severe thunderstorm warning for western Douglas and southern Jefferson Counties has expired.

3:28 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | The NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for western Douglas, southern Jefferson counties until 4 p.m. Half dollar-sized hail is possible for a storm near South Platte.

3:25 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Southwest Jefferson County is under a flash flood warning until 6:30 p.m. According to the NWS, law enforcement reported 2" of rain has already fallen in Buffalo Creek with an additional 1.5" of rain possible. Roads near Buffalo Creek are impassible, the NWS said law enforcement reported.

3:00 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | West central Douglas, southwestern Jefferson Counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 3:30 p.m. The NWS said radar-indicated hail up to half-dollar sized is possible for a storm near Pine Grove.

2:45 p.m. | Forecast update | Storm development has been slow over Colorado's higher elevations so far today, but the NWS said models indicate increasing coverage of widespread storms as the afternoon unfolds.Most of the areas under the flash flood watch are under a marginal risk of flooding, the NWS said.

2:36 p.m. | First flood watch for burn scar area | The Grizzly Creek Burn Scar, including I-70 in Glenwood Canyon is under a flash flood watch until 10 p.m., CDOT said in a release. This is the first flood watch issued for Glenwood Canyon this year and is in effect in case flooding conditions require crews to quickly evacuate travelers from rest areas in the canyon. Read more from the release.

2:28 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | West central Jefferson County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 3 p.m. for a storm near Pine Junction. Quarter-sized hail is possible with this storm.

12:00 p.m. | Weather watch | A flood watch is now in effect until midnight for all of the Denver metro stretching from Colorado Springs, north to the Wyoming border and across Colorado's plains.

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