Two men were hit by lightning Tuesday afternoon as heavy thunderstorms moved through the metro area. Both were expected to survive.
Also, a flash flood warning was issued for east-central Larimer County until 6:30 p.m. That warning includes Buckhorn Mountain, Poudre Park, Mishawaka and Ted’s Place, as rain is expected above the High Park burn scar.
At about 2:45 p.m., Denver Fire dispatched paramedics to the 2800 block of South Federal Boulevard, near Dartmouth, after reports that two men had been struck by lightning.
Denver Fire told 7News the two men were taking shelter under a tree.
Both were transported to area hospitals, with a spokeswoman from Denver Health saying one was in critical but stable condition, the other in fair condition.
About 1,000 lightning strikes were reported within 30 minutes at the height of the activity in Denver.
A severe thunderstorm, unleashing “quarter-size hail,” moved through southern Jefferson County at about 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
An urban and small stream flood advisory for parts of Jefferson County and all of Denver County was lifted at 3:30 p.m.
At about 2:10 p..m the storm was centered over Indian Hills, in the foothills, and it was moving east at about 20 mph, the weather service said. Other areas in the storm’s path includes Lakewood, Littleton, Morrison and Red Rocks Park.
The weather service has issued a flash flood watch for a widespread portion of southeastern Colorado, from Akron south to the New Mexico state line, and west of Canon City. On Tuesday morning Colorado Springs and Castle Rock were within the watch area forecast. Denver is not in the watch area, but counties east of Denver, including Elbert, are under the watch.
The flash flood watch starts at 2 p.m. Tuesday and will run through late night, the weather service said.
There is also a high threat of flooding in the Waldo Canyon burn area.
A “very moist and unstable” system will bring thunderstorms to parts of northeastern Colorado and the Eastern Plains, with rainfall rates of up to two inches per hour at times.
Washington, Lincoln, Elbert and eastern Adams and Arapahoe counties could be hard hit, the weather service said.
Thunderstorms should develop over the mountains Tuesday morning and spread east as the day progresses.
Rivers and streams will likely run hard and fast Tuesday afternoon and night and water could flood low lying areas and roadways, the weather service said.
In Denver Tuesday, there’s a 50 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, according to the weather service. Skies over Denver should be cloudy and the high temperature will top out at 81 degrees.
On Wednesday in Denver there’s a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high temperature should hit about 76 degrees.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson
