Pea-sized hail hit the ground in parts of the Denver area yesterday---from the Hilltop neighborhood to Highlands Ranch and Aurora. Thunderstorms capable of creating a tornado were spotted about 25 miles north of Trinidad on Colorado's southern border, and a tornado warning was issued for Las Animas County (via The Associated Press). It's that time of year when cars should stay parked in garages. But for now, the severest weather threat is far from the Front Range---from eastern Colorado into West Texas, where daytime warmth will help create potentially massive thunderstorms this afternoon (via AccuWeather). That information is probably interesting to University of Colorado researcher Katja Friedrich, who will join more than 100 scientists in an armada to chase storms through America's Tornado Alley for six in May and June, writes the Colorado Daily. As for Denver's weather, expect clouds and afternoon storms today and showers tomorrow. Saturday? A chance of rain/snow mix (via 7News).