DENVER — Friday, July 12, 2025 — After a relatively quiet morning across the metro area, stormy weather is expected to return to Denver this afternoon, bringing with it the chance for strong winds, hail, and heavy rain.
Denver7 meteorologists have issued a Weather Action Day, warning that some of the stronger storms developing later today could produce wind gusts up to 65 mph, quarter-size hail, and localized flooding, especially across parts of eastern Colorado and the Northern Front Range.
“We’re watching for a few isolated storms to really ramp up between about 2 and 3 o’clock this afternoon,” said Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. “They’ll likely form over the mountains first and then move east out across the plains. Some of them could get intense.”
The good news: commuters in the Denver area may avoid the worst of the weather, with dry roads expected during the early evening drive. But Hidalgo added that storms will likely continue to fire up east of the city and move into the far eastern plains overnight, possibly creating some dramatic lightning displays and periods of heavy rain along I-70.
Severe weather threat stretches across northeastern Colorado
The National Weather Service office in Boulder echoed concerns over severe weather potential, saying the risk of tornadoes remains low, but strong winds and flooding are definite possibilities as the evening unfolds.
A flood watch has been issued starting at 6 p.m. for parts of northeastern Colorado, including Logan, Morgan, northeastern Weld, Phillips, Sedgwick, and Washington counties. These areas could see localized downpours and flash flooding as storms roll through later tonight.
“Some storms will be capable of producing intense rainfall in a short amount of time,” NWS forecasters said Friday. “We’ll also be watching for strong outflow winds and small hail, with the highest flood threat east of the foothills and north of I-70.”
Storms could bring hazards to open water
The NWS is also advising extra caution on area lakes and reservoirs. Sudden outflow winds are common in thunderstorm conditions, and forecasters warned that anyone out on the water today could be caught off guard.
“If you see clouds building on the horizon, it’s best to head back to shore before storms arrive,” the agency said in a statement Friday morning. “Strong, gusty winds can arrive quickly, and they can be dangerous. Don’t forget the life jackets.”
Weekend outlook: Cooler Saturday, hotter Sunday
Once today’s storms move through, the Denver area should see a brief break Saturday morning, with another round of afternoon storms likely to form south of the city. Areas like Fort Collins and Greeley are expected to remain mostly dry on Saturday.
High temperatures will stay in the mid to upper 80s (around 30°C) through Saturday, but things heat up again Sunday, with temperatures climbing back into the low 90s (around 32–34°C).
Denver7 will continue tracking the latest on this developing weather situation, with updates online, on-air, and via their 24/7 weather stream.
