Strong Thunderstorms Strike Georgia, Neighboring States This Week
A series of fast-moving thunderstorms packed wind gusts up to 55 mph across Georgia, Indiana, and Pennsylvania this week, threatening communities from Waynesboro to Mifflinburg.
WAYNESBORO, GEORGIA — Strong thunderstorms moved through parts of Georgia and neighboring states between June 15 and June 18, 2026, leading to Special Weather Statements from the National Weather Service about wind gusts and potential property damage.
Georgia Storm Activity
The latest alert, issued June 18 at 1:52 p.m. EDT by NWS Columbia, South Carolina, tracked a line of strong thunderstorms from near Wrens to near Gough to near Emmalane, moving northeast at 35 mph. Radar indicated wind gusts up to 50 mph, with the potential to knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
Communities in the path of the storms included Waynesboro, Hephzibah, Midville, Alexander, Burke County Airport, Gough, Blythe, Keysville, Vidette, Di-Lane Wildlife Management Area, Bath-Edie, Pea Patch Aerodrome, Magruder, Ellwood, Colemans Lake, and Rosier, according to the National Weather Service.
On June 17 at 12:45 p.m. EDT, NWS Tallahassee issued a Special Weather Statement tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles southeast of Ashford, or 12 miles east of Cottonwood, moving northeast at 35 mph. That storm also carried radar-indicated wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Communities affected by the June 17 storm included Colquitt, Blakely, Ashford, Columbia, Douglasville, Centerville, Malone, Gordon, Damascus, Jakin, Bascom, Saffold, Pansey, Crosby, Mayhaw, Rock Hill, Early Co A/p, Farley Nuclear Plant, Hentown, and Hilton.
Earlier in the week, on June 15 at 3:11 p.m. EDT, NWS Tallahassee tracked a line of strong thunderstorms stretching from near Richards Crossroads to Abbeville to near Headland to near Dothan, moving east at 30 mph. Those storms carried wind gusts up to 40 mph and threatened communities including Abbeville, Fort Gaines, Headland, Dothan, Blakely, Kinsey, Ashford, Cowarts, Webb, Columbia, Newville, Bellville, Haleburg, Bluffton, Shorterville, Hayes, Watson Crossroads, Scottsboro Crossroads, Ricks Place, and Pecan.
Storms Also Hit Indiana and Pennsylvania
The same stretch of active weather affected other parts of the country. On June 16 at 4:21 p.m. EDT, NWS Northern Indiana issued a Special Weather Statement tracking a strong thunderstorm over Angola, Indiana, moving northeast at 40 mph. That storm carried wind gusts up to 50 mph and half-inch hail, raising the possibility of minor damage to vegetation.
Locations in Indiana’s path included Angola, Fremont, Columbia, Ray, Camden, Montgomery, Clear Lake, York, Nettle Lake, Crooked Lake, Golden Lake, Lake Seneca, Berlien, and Long Lake. The storm also affected Interstate 69 between mile markers 345 and 354, and Interstate 80 between mile markers 146 and 156, according to the National Weather Service.
On June 18 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, NWS State College, Pennsylvania, tracked a strong thunderstorm over Mifflinburg, moving east at 65 mph with radar-indicated wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph. Communities affected included Milton, Lewisburg, Northumberland, Mifflinburg, Winfield, Linntown, New Columbia, Montandon, Penns Creek, Vicksburg, Forest Hill, Laurelton Center, Sand Bridge State Park, West Milton, New Berlin, Hartleton, and Bucknell.
Safety Precautions Advised
Across all the affected areas, the National Weather Service warned that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Residents in impacted communities were advised to secure loose outdoor items and stay alert to rapidly changing weather conditions.
All alerts were based on Doppler radar data. Additional information is available through local National Weather Service offices and the NWS public weather alert system.
