Denver -- Temperatures will soar to above average once again on Friday with temperatures warming into the upper 70s and low 80s. Expect mostly sunny skies with a very little chance of any isolated thunderstorms. Any light showers would most likely be in northern and northeastern Colorado. The dry weather pattern will continue through the weekend.

It was an active Thursday afternoon across the eastern Colorado border. A number of severe thunderstorm watches and tornado watches were in effect Thursday afternoon, but the stormy weather has pushed east and the alerts have expired as of Friday morning.

The most severe weather slammed into the midwest with more than 50 tornadoes reported in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa on Thursday afternoon and evening. This was the same spot that was hit hard this past weekend. On Friday, the severe storms will push a bit to the east, with one of the most active areas in central Illinois.

Because of the warm temperatures, we are seeing rapid snowmelt in the northwest mountains. There is a FLOOD WARNING in effect for both Routt and Moffat counties. The Yampa River in Steamboat Springs and the Elk River in Milner could reach flood stage by the weekend. There is also a FLOOD WATCH in effect for Gunnison county.

Thursday marks one week from the deadly tornado that swept through Windsor, and killed one near Greeley. Keep in mind, the severe weather season in Colorado is just starting, so be prepared for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail and lightning.

It's been an above-average year for tornadoes so far, with over 1,000 twisters confirmed as of last week. National Weather Service meteorologists and engineers are still sifting through the debris in Windsor, trying to determine the official strength of last week's tornado.

Preliminary estimates have placed it between an EF-2 and EF-3. The "EF" rating is based on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which is now being used to rate the wind speeds of tornadoes, based on damage to structures. Wind speeds in the Windsor tornado could range from 111 to 165 mph. We are expecting the official word from the NWS sometime this week.

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