Major thunderstorms packed with lightning and heavy rain forced Denver International Airport officials to announce a full ground stop.
There are no arriving or departing flights from the airport as the storm sweeps through the metro area.
Officials say they are seeing intense lightning and rain. Sheets of rain drenched the Montbello neighborhood.
Littleton firefighters helped save two people who were stranded in their vehicles.
Littleton Firefighters just assisted 2 people from their stranded vehicles at Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway after rain water rose above their tires. No injuries and water is quickly receding, expect some traffic delays in the area.
– Littleton Fire (@Littleton_Fire) July 23, 2018
The storms also brought flash flooding and small hail for El Paso County.
Hartsel is about 65 miles west of Colorado Springs.
County emergency officials say the west Highway 24 corridor also saw flash flooding. Colorado State Patrol has since closed Hwy 24 between Green Mountain Falls and Cave of the Winds in both directions.
Mantiou Springs residents are now told to evacuate to higher ground. An evacuation center is set up at the Community Congregational Church on Pawnee Avenue.
Officials in Teller County warned drivers to stay off roads because of rushing water.
This is an extremely dangerous situation with the flooding. Please stay home do not drive into any rushing water. This one almost took us #cowx
– Cdr. Greg Couch, PIO (@TCSOPIO) July 23, 2018
Hours after the first round of storms, parts of Colorado were hit again with more rain and hail.
A swath of rain and strong wind whipped through downtown Denver just after 8 p.m.
Judy Cavagnetto caught jaw-dropping images from her home in Hartsel of a tornado. Weather expert confirm a brief touchdown about four miles west/northwest of the town on open land. They say there are no reports of injuries or damage.
