The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Broomfield County and most of the Front Range this afternoon, and Broomfield could see large hail and winds as well as afternoon showers and thunderstorms move into the area.
A tornado watch, like a severe thunderstorm watch, means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to form, but it also means that a few storms may be capable of producing a tornado. A tornado warning is the ultimate in severe warnings, it means that a tornado is either occurring or imminent based on radar. You should take cover immediately, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m., according to the Weather Service.
Today's forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 73 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Showers and thunderstorms are likely, and storms could be severe, with large hail, hail, damaging winds and heavy rain, according to the Weather Service.
Thursday's forecast calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Some storms could be severe, with hail, damaging winds, gusty winds, and heavy rain. The high temperature is forecast to reach 73.