Severe hailstorm hits Colorado on Sunday with egg-sized chunks
Sunday, July 7, brought intense and violent weather across Colorado, with hailstones as large as eggs and even a confirmed tornado in Morgan County, just 13 miles east of Fort Morgan. While Denver mainly experienced rain and thunder, other areas across the state were battered by hail ranging from quarter-sized to lime-sized, with the most extreme conditions focused in El Paso County.
Hail sizes range from quarters to golf balls and eggs
According to the National Weather Service, hailstones measured at 1 inch (2.54 cm) in many locations, roughly the size of a quarter. But in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Monument, residents saw hail up to 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide — about the size of a medium egg or a lime. Other commonly reported sizes included 1.25 inches (3.17 cm), the size of a half dollar, 1.5 inches (3.81 cm), like a ping pong ball, and 1.75 inches (4.45 cm), equivalent to a golf ball.
The most impacted areas on Sunday
The strongest hailstorm activity was concentrated in El Paso County, where multiple locations reported hailstones over 1.5 inches. Colorado Springs, Black Forest, and Falcon were among the most heavily affected. Specifically, 2 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, hail reached 2 inches (5.08 cm). Edgewater, in Jefferson County, experienced ping pong ball-sized hail, while parts of Aurora, Denver, and Wheat Ridge saw more moderate hail measuring 1 inch (2.54 cm).
List of significant hail reports across Colorado on July 7:
El Paso County was particularly hard-hit, with hail up to 2 inches in southwest Colorado Springs, 1.75 inches in Manitou Springs, and 1.5 inches across multiple points including Falcon and Black Forest. In Weld County, hail measured 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) near Briggsdale. Additional reports of 1-inch hail came from Aurora, Wheat Ridge, and east Denver.
Hail like snow in Monument
One striking image came from Monument, just north of Colorado Springs, where hail covered the road like snow, offering a dramatic illustration of the storm’s power. In the Denver metro area, Edgewater saw the largest hail — 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) — while Aurora, Wheat Ridge, and east Denver were pelted with quarter-sized hailstones.
More severe weather coming Monday
The storm system is not finished. Additional thunderstorms are expected to impact the Denver metro and eastern plains on Monday, July 8, bringing large hail, strong gusts, and the risk of isolated tornadoes, particularly to the east of the metro area.
