SIDNEY, Neb. — The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the Nebraska Panhandle and surrounding areas through 8 p.m. Sunday, with the potential for large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

The watch includes the Nebraska counties of Banner, Cheyenne, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill and Scotts Bluff, as well as Goshen, Laramie and Platte counties in Wyoming and 15 counties in northeastern Colorado, including Logan, Sedgwick and Yuma.

A Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather is in effect Sunday. Storms are expected to develop later this afternoon and evening across the tri-state region.

Looking ahead, severe weather threats continue into Monday before hot and drier conditions return mid-week. The Storm Prediction Center has outlined an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for Monday across much of the same region. The primary threats with storms include large hail, strong wind gusts and a chance for isolated tornadoes.

The NWS encourages residents to stay alert, have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and avoid travel during dangerous conditions.