SIDNEY —The National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm watch for the southern Nebraska Panhandle and portions of northeastern Colorado and southeast Wyoming. The watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. Friday.

At 2:10 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong storm near Gun Barrel, about 25 miles northeast of Cheyenne, moving northeast at 30 mph. The storm produced wind gusts between 50 to 55 mph and penny-sized hail. 

Later in the day, the Storm Prediction Center issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Arthur, Banner, Box Butte, Chase, Cheyenne, Deuel, Dundy, Garden, Grant, Keith, Kimball, Morrill, Perkins, Scotts Bluff and Sheridan Counties in Nebraska. In Colorado, counties include Baca, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma. Laramie County in southeast Wyoming was also included.

Forecasters say storms may continue to develop east of the Laramie Range through early evening. The primary threats are large hail and damaging wind, with a possibility of an isolated tornado.

Additional unsettled weather is expected through the weekend, with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures are forecast to be near or slightly below average for late May.