Weather service includes Nebraska Panhandle, northeast Colorado in severe weather watch

SIDNEY - A cluster of thunderstorms that developed east of Interstate 25 in Wyoming at approximately 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon pushed into the Nebraska Panhandle after 4 p.m., spawning a severe thunderstorm watch from the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne.

The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday for the entire Nebraska Panhandle, southwest Nebraska and northeast Colorado, including Cheyenne, Kimball, Banner, Morrill, Garden, Deuel, Logan and Sedgwick Counties. 

The weather service anticipates a couple of thunderstorms to become strong to severe and will most likely intensify over the southern Nebraska panhandle where large hail and damaging winds are possible, along with some isolated flash flooding.

A severe thunderstorm warning in Dawes County lasted until 5 p.m. 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail were the main threats with the storm.

A marginal risk for severe thunderstorms, with another round of hail and downburst winds, has been outlined by the NWS for parts of the Nebraska Panhandle on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the weather service, daily chances for showers and thunderstorms, with the possibility of hail and gusty winds, continue through the week. Storm coverage will increase through the week with widespread storms with heavy rain expected by the end of the work week. Flash flooding risks will be elevated.