Mother nature planning own fireworks display

SIDNEY - Fourth of July Celebrations could be impacted across the Sidney region Tuesday by multiple lines of strong to severe thunderstorms as a surface cold front moves south into Colorado and stalls across the the Rocky Mountains.

The National Weather Service office in Cheyenne says the primary hazard in stronger storms will be wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and one-inch diameter or larger hail. 

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday for Cheyenne, Kimball, Banner and Scotts Bluff Counties in Nebraska; Laramie and Goshen Counties in southeast Wyoming; and Logan and Sedgwick Counties in northeast Colorado. 

Thunderstorms developed quickly in southeast Wyoming and northern Colorado during the midday Tuesday. They were expected to become strong to severe as early as noon. 

The severe weather threat postponed the City of Sterling's fireworks display Tuesday. It was rescheduled for July 30. The Sedgwick County Health Center cancelled their Hometown 4th of July Celebration in Julesburg. However, the fire department still planned to host the city's fireworks display as of 3 p.m.

The weather service says record low morning temperatures are possible for Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Lingering moisture, rain showers, and easterly winds from an approaching surface high pressure will cause dense fog to occur along the Interstate 80 corridor, from the I-80 Summit to potentially eastern Cheyenne County Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Visibility could be reduced to less than a mile at times in patchy, dense fog. 

Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms exists for through next Monday.

WEATHER ALERTS