Severe Weather Alert - Friday, June 19, 2026
BOCA RATON, FL — South Florida is dealing with a volatile late-day weather setup Friday as deeper moisture and increasing storm coverage build across the region. A severe thunderstorm was tracked at 6:52 p.m. near Okeelanta/Belle Glade and is moving northeast, prompting a warning through 7:15 p.m. for parts of the Glades in southwestern Palm Beach County and adjacent east central Hendry County. While Boca Raton is not currently in the warned area, residents should expect additional storms to develop and move across Palm Beach County this evening, with dangerous lightning and locally damaging wind possible.
The warned storm is capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 mph, strong enough to knock down tree limbs, damage roofs and siding, and cause scattered power outages—especially in more exposed areas and around older trees. The National Weather Service says the storm was located over Okeelanta (near Belle Glade) at 6:52 p.m., moving northeast at about 10 mph.
Communities and landmarks specifically cited in the warning include South Bay, Lake Harbor, Okeelanta, Holey Land Wildlife Refuge, and Rotenberger Wildlife Refuge. For residents in western Palm Beach County, this is a “get inside now” situation.
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay away from windows until the storm passes. If you’re driving along U.S.
27 or on rural roads near the Glades, be prepared for sudden drops in visibility, ponding water, and debris blown onto roadways. For Boca Raton and the coastal metro, the bigger message is to stay alert through the evening: the broader pattern favors increasing showers and thunderstorms across South Florida, and any storm can produce frequent lightning, brief torrential rain, and gusty winds.
Important Information
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 7:15 PM EDT for east central Hendry County and southwestern Palm Beach County
- Hazard: 60 mph wind gusts (radar indicated)
- Hail threat: radar indicated; max hail size under 0.75 inch
- Impacts: potential damage to roofs, siding, and trees
- Locations impacted: South Bay, Lake Harbor, Okeelanta, Holey Land Wildlife Refuge, Rotenberger Wildlife Refuge
- Safety action: move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building
Track the latest South Florida radar, warnings, and forecast updates from the National Weather Service and local alerts as storms evolve this evening.
