Denver metro area, Eastern Colorado prepare for strong to severe storms Tuesday afternoon

Things have "cooled" off across Colorado after a sweltering weekend, but now the threat for severe weather grows going into Tuesday.

The Denver area is under a Level 2- Slight risk for severe storms on Tuesday afternoon. That risk covers Northern and Eastern Colorado as well, with a Level 1 – Marginal Risk for the Front Range mountains and Southern Colorado.

Two inches in diameter hail and damaging wind gusts above 60 mph are the greatest threats on Tuesday.

There is also a risk of isolated tornadoes.

Scattered storms will begin developing after lunchtime and move Northeast throughout the afternoon.

The peak timing for storm potential in the Denver area will be between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

High temperatures across the Front Range will be slightly cooler than normal, climbing into the low 80s.

Dewpoints will climb into the upper 50s to low 60s, which will help destabilize the atmosphere and set the stage for that threat of severe storms.