DENVER (USA Today) -- Five tornadoes touched down in the Denver area Wednesday afternoon, temporarily closing the airport as severe spring storms pelted the city and Rocky Mountain foothills with hail.
Emergency sirens blared in Denver and Aurora, and softball-size hail fell to the northeast, KUSA-TV reported. Quarter-size hailstones fell in the city and suburbs.
The violent weather knocked down tress and caused minor flooding, but no significant damage was reported.
Tornado warnings for portions of Arapahoe, Denver and Adams counties were in effect until 3:45 p.m. MT (5:45 p.m. ET). A tornado watch for the region remains active until 8 p.m.
Denver International Airport resumed operations after a brief shutdown. Flight delays of about an hour were expected.
About 40 flights were diverted to Colorado Springs and other airports, and more diversion were likely, an airport spokesman told KUSA, which is owned by Gannett, USA TODAY's parent company. Plows were clearing hail and water from the runways, and delays were averaging 90 minutes, the airport said.
More severe weather -- including the possibility of tornadoes -- is possible Thursday in Denver and southeastern Colorado.
