MERINO — Severe thunderstorms pounded the Nebraska Panhandle and northeastern Colorado Friday afternoon and evening, producing large hail, damaging winds, and at least two confirmed tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.

The most significant activity occurred in Washington and Logan counties in northeastern Colorado, where tornado warnings were issued into the evening hours. A tornado was confirmed near Merino around 5:11 p.m., and another touched down northeast of Akron in Washington County around 5:42 p.m., accompanied by tennis ball-sized hail. Both tornadoes prompted multiple warnings as they tracked southeast. Damage reports are still pending, but officials warned of threats to mobile homes, windows and rooftops.

Earlier in the day, a particularly destructive storm in southwestern Logan County produced baseball-sized hail near Stoneham, prompting a warning for damaging winds and intense hail. Several other storms across the region generated hail ranging from quarters to golf balls and wind gusts over 60 mph.

In Nebraska, a storm east of La Grange delivered strong winds and quarter-sized hail near Gering and the Scotts Bluff National Monument around 3:45 p.m. Another storm in southeastern Kimball County produced half-dollar-sized hail near Kimball, while a late afternoon storm near Kilpatrick Lake was observed with golf ball-sized hail as it moved toward Lake Minatare.

After sunset, storms remained active. A confirmed report of golf ball-sized hail came from north of Veteran, Wyoming, around 8:50 p.m., with a storm impacting Torrington, Morrill, Lyman, and surrounding areas. Around 9:10 p.m., another warning was issued for a storm near Lyman, which threatened Scottsbluff, Gering, Mitchell and several surrounding communities with hail and wind.

Even early Saturday morning, the atmosphere remained unsettled. A strong thunderstorm near Dix around 6:12 a.m. brought 40 mph winds and pea-sized hail, with the potential to impact travel on Interstate 80 between mile markers 26 and 29.

The National Weather Service has placed the region under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather Saturday. Isolated strong to severe storms will be possible again this afternoon, especially across far northeastern Colorado from Sterling to Akron. Large hail and gusty winds remain the main threats.

Looking ahead, forecasters say the region will remain under an active weather pattern through next week with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to stay near or just below seasonal averages for late May.

No injuries have been reported from Friday's storms.