Severe storm brings quarter-size hail, 60 mph winds near Sterling

Quarter-size hail and 60 mph wind gusts hit southern Logan County Monday evening as a severe thunderstorm moved northeast of Sterling, putting neighborhoods near Iliff, Padroni, Atwood, North Sterling Reservoir and Reiradon Hill in the path of the strongest weather. The National Weather Service said the storm was near Iliff, about 8 miles northeast of Sterling, at 6:42 p.m. MDT and was moving northeast at 40 mph. The severe thunderstorm warning for southern Logan County was set to expire at 7 p.m. MDT.

The weather office said hail damage to vehicles was expected, along with wind damage to roofs, siding and trees. For people in Sterling and the surrounding countryside, the main threat was the combination of large hail and strong gusts, which could quickly turn a short drive or an exposed parking lot into a costly cleanup.

The storm was part of a broader active weather pattern over Colorado’s eastern plains. At 5:58 p.m. MDT Monday, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for eastern Elbert County and north central Lincoln County after radar showed rotation in a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado and three-inch hail. A Tornado Watch also remained in effect until 9 p.m. MDT Monday for a portion of east central Colorado, underscoring how unstable the atmosphere stayed into the evening.

Logan County faced another hazard Tuesday. Sterling was under a Fire Weather Watch from noon to 9 p.m. MDT, a warning sign that dry conditions and gusty winds could combine to raise fire danger after the overnight severe weather. National Weather Service forecast text said some thunderstorms could still be severe Monday afternoon and evening, with additional severe storms possible Tuesday.

No public damage reports had been confirmed in the available information, but the threat around Sterling was clear: hail, wind, and fast-changing conditions across southern Logan County. Residents near the storm track were left watching the sky for the next cell to form, with the eastern plains still in an active stretch of hazardous weather.