Heavy thunderstorms pass through the rocky front and cast shadows over the western plateaus

Dangerous weather will be present tonight from the Rocky Front Ranges to the western High Plains. Damaging winds and heavy hail are the main risks, although an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

A large severe weather zone stretches from Montana and western North Dakota into the Texas Panhandle. Cities like Glasgow, Mont., Rapid City, South Dakota, McCook, Nebraska, and Colby, Garden City and Liberal, Kansas, need to keep a close eye on the skies for impending weather.

Tonight or early Wednesday morning, clusters or lines of strong thunderstorms will spread across northern and eastern Montana near and ahead of the storm's warm front. Unfortunately, these thunderstorms may bring damaging wind gusts, hailstones larger than quarters, and an isolated tornado or two.

So far today, more than 50 severe weather reports have been reported from New Mexico to Utah and from the western High Plains east to Montana north. A gust of 72 mph was measured near Blende, Colorado, and a gust of 71 mph was measured near Yoder, Colorado. Earlier today, a gust of 63 mph was measured in Oxford, Colorado, and a gust of 62 mph was reported near Wellsville, Utah.

It is important to be weatherproof so that you do not have to prepare. One way to do this is to know warnings and their respective meanings. If a regard is issued, it means that severe weather is possible and you should be alert to any changing weather. If a warning is issued, it means severe weather is imminent and you must act quickly to stay safe. Remember, “When there's thunder, get indoors!”