Severe weather ripped through the eastern plains of Colorado on Monday afternoon, with hail and heavy rains in some areas as a tornado watch was posted for several northeastern Colorado counties.

Julesburg, in extreme northeastern Colorado along the Nebraska border, was hit with hail and flooding rains Monday afternoon as dark, ominous storm clouds towered above the plains. Hailstones measuring 2.25 inches pounded the town of Paoli in Phillips County.

A tornado watch in Boulder, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld counties expired at 8:15 p.m.

Eastern counties in Colorado, including Baca, Bent, Kiowa and Prowers are under a severe thunderstorm watch through midnight.

In Denver, the high temperature Monday climbed to 93 degrees, according to the weather service.

Afternoon rain and thunderstorms are possible across northeastern Colorado throughout the week, but chances increase near the end of the week, according to the NWS.

“Each afternoon, we’ll be dodging hailstones as far west as Denver,” said Nazette Rydell, spokeswoman for the National Weather Service in Boulder.

There is a 10 percent chance of rain Tuesday, a 20 percent chance Wednesday and a 30 percent chance Thursday.

Temperatures will gradually drop from a high of 89 on Tuesday to a high of 79 on Friday.

There is a slight chance of rain showers and thunderstorms Friday through Sunday.

The low temperature will be in the high 50s and low 60s all week, according to the NWS.

Saturday’s high temperature will be about 85, and Sunday’s will be about 87.