Strong Thunderstorm Targets Panhandle Communities With Gusty Winds, Hail
A fast-moving thunderstorm threatened 20 Florida Panhandle communities Tuesday night with wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea-size hail, the National Weather Service warned.
BLOUNTSTOWN, FLORIDA — A strong thunderstorm tracked by Doppler radar threatened several Florida Panhandle communities Tuesday evening, prompting the National Weather Service in Tallahassee to issue a Special Weather Statement at 8:43 p.m. EDT on June 23, 2026.
At the time of the alert, the storm was located near Blountstown and moving east at 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Hazards and Potential Impacts
The NWS identified two primary hazards associated with the storm: wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea-size hail. Both threats were radar-indicated, meaning instruments detected the conditions rather than ground observers confirming them.
Gusty winds posed a risk of knocking down tree limbs and displacing unsecured outdoor objects, the agency warned. Minor hail damage to vegetation was also considered possible.
Communities in the Storm’s Path
The National Weather Service identified 20 locations in the storm’s projected path, spanning Calhoun, Liberty, and Gadsden counties. Those communities included Blountstown, Greensboro, Gretna, Bristol, Altha, Rock Bluff, Clarksville, Ocheesee, Juniper, Selman, Hosford, Chipola, Henderson Mill, Clio, Kennys Mill, Lowry, Blountstown Airport, Sawdust, Telogia, and Red Oak.
Residents in those areas were advised to secure loose outdoor items and remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions as the storm pushed eastward through the region.
