DENVER -- Funnel clouds were spotted in the skies northeast of Denver Wednesday afternoon but it was the hail that caused the most damage.

The storm rapidly developed at 1 p.m. and "exploded" over the Denver area, 7NEWS Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson said.

The severe weather affected flights at Denver International Airport. The tornado warning prompted travelers to take shelter in bathrooms, which are tornado shelters, one caller told 7NEWS.

"We are seeing some operational impact," a DIA spokesman said earlier.

The airport was down to 46 arrivals per hour from the normal 93 aircraft per hour.

There was only one arrival runway in operation during the storm.

Tornado Watch Issued 1:50 PM

A tornado watch was issued for a large swatch from the Front Range, north into Wyoming and was in effect until 9 p.m. Counties in the watch area included Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Washington and Weld.

Hail Damage In Commerce City at 1:55 PM

Golf ball-size hail was reported in Commerce City.

"We have reports of vehicles in the Commerce City area of windshields being damaged by hail," said Candi Baker of the Adams County Sheriff's Office.

Office Chris Dickey said there were a number of reports of hail damage to cars and buildings. He said hail was 6 to 12 inches deep in some areas.

Some areas had so much hail that snowplows were requested to clear the roads.

Tornado Spotted On Doppler 2:06 PM

At 2:06 p.m. National Weather Service doppler radar was tracking a tornado over northern denver international airport...or 17 miles northeast of Denver. The storm was moving northeast at 5 mph.

Hail Covers Ground 2:15 PM

Hail turned the ground into a white winter-looking wonderland north and east of Denver.

Airtracker7 video showed entire subdivisions covered in hail. In another shot, people could be seen shoveling the hail from the roadway near Interstate 76 and 104th Avenue.

A number of parked cars could be seen with rear windows knocked out by hail in the Reunion subdivision.

"Car windows were blown out, trees and shrubs stripped of leaves, solar lighting damaged, roofs damaged," said Tara Ellis, who lives in Reunion.

"I've live in this area for seven years now and it is the worst storm that I've ever seen in this area."

"Hail is a very good precursor to a tornado," said Nelson.

New Cell Develops In SE Denver 2:40 PM

A new storm cell developed over Cherry Creek and Colorado Boulevard at 2:40 p.m.. It moved northeast toward Montbello, western DIA and was over Commerce City by 3 p.m.

Betty Deshazer from Adams County dispatch said the worst conditions they've seen were at 96th Avenue and Chambers Road, with softball-sized hail and heavy rain. She told 7NEWS that dispatch had been inundated with alarms and weather-related calls.

"The area is covered with hail and cars are driving with their lights on," said Joyce Wisner in the Buffalo Mesa subdivision, near Reunion in Adams County. "It looks like February."

"I have never seen anything like this in all my life," she told 7NEWS.

Tornado Warning Issued 3:12 PM

A tornado warning was issued for northeastern Larimer and northwestern Weld counties until 3:45 pm.

At 3:12 pm trained weather spotters reported a funnel cloud 10 miles southwest of Carr, or 16 miles north of Fort Collins. The storm was moving north at 35 mph.

Locations in the warning include but are not limited to Rockport, Natural Fort Rest Area and Carr.

Insurance Losses 3:55 PM

Insurance losses are expected to be heavy from the series of storms.

"What we're likely to see is that baseball-sized hail can really damage your car and even total your car," said Carole Walker Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. "We ask that people take immediate steps to protect their vehicles and homes from further damage. After you make the temporary repairs, take pictures and notes to further document your damage."

She said people should be patient because adjusters will be swamped.

"Be a little bit patient. Serious losses take precedence," she said.

Mike Miranda, in the Buffalo Ridge subdivision near Reunion, told 7NEWS that damage to his roof was estimated at $17,000. He and his son spent the late afternoon shoveling hail from their driveway.

Tornado Warning 4:17 PM

A tornado warning was issued for south central Weld County until 5 p.m.

At 4:17 p.m., Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado near Prospect Valley, moving east at 10 p.m.

The National Weather Service said the storm cell had a history of producing tornadoes and large hail.

Tornado Warning 6:14 PM

A new tornado warning was issued for north central Elbert and eastern Arapahoe counties until 7 p.m.

At 6:13 p.m., Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 3 miles south of Deer Trail, or 29 miles northwest of Limon. The storm was moving northeast at 15 mph.

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