Strong Thunderstorms Pound Orlando Area With 50 MPH Gusts
Three strong thunderstorms rolled through the Orlando area on June 16 and 18, packing 50 mph wind gusts and hail — hitting communities from Kissimmee to Altamonte Springs.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — A series of strong thunderstorms swept through the Orlando metropolitan area on June 16 and June 18, 2026, bringing wind gusts up to 50 mph and prompting multiple Special Weather Statements from the National Weather Service office in Melbourne, Florida.
Back-to-Back Storm Events Strike Central Florida
The first two storms struck on June 16, with NWS Melbourne tracking a strong thunderstorm over Bay Hill and Windermere at 6:18 p.m. EDT, moving northeast at 25 mph. That system brought hazardous wind gusts up to 50 mph, with forecasters warning that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
Communities in the path of the 6:18 p.m. storm included Orlando, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Winter Park, and Maitland, according to radar data cited by NWS Melbourne.
Twenty minutes later, at 6:37 p.m. EDT on June 16, Doppler radar showed a second strong thunderstorm tracking over Azalea Park and moving northeast at 15 mph. That storm also carried wind gusts up to 50 mph and threatened a new set of communities across the region.
Locations in the path of the second June 16 storm included Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Winter Springs, and Winter Park, NWS Melbourne reported.
Third Storm Brings Hail to Kissimmee and Orlando
A third storm system moved through the area on the evening of June 18, when NWS Melbourne issued a Special Weather Statement at 7:10 p.m. EDT. Radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Hunters Creek, near Kissimmee, heading north at 25 mph.
In addition to wind gusts up to 50 mph, the June 18 storm brought an added hazard: pea-size hail. Forecasters said minor hail damage to vegetation was possible alongside the risk of falling tree limbs and wind-tossed unsecured objects.
The communities identified as being in the storm’s path on June 18 were Orlando, Conway, Oak Ridge, Azalea Park, and Pine Hills, according to NWS Melbourne.
Residents Urged to Secure Property During Storm Season
All three storm alerts were based on radar-indicated data from NWS Melbourne, the agency noted in each statement. No tornado warnings were issued in connection with any of the three systems.
The repeated storms over a two-day span highlight the region’s vulnerability to fast-moving afternoon and evening thunderstorms during Florida’s summer wet season. Residents in affected communities are advised to secure outdoor furniture and other loose objects before storms develop, as gusty winds can turn unsecured items into projectiles.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne covers much of central Florida, including the greater Orlando area. Residents can monitor the latest alerts at weather.gov.
