Special Weather Statement For Orange and Lake Counties

LEESBURG, Florida - The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for Northern Lake County, Orange County, and Southern Lake County. 

Strong thunderstorms are forecasted to impact the area until 12:30 PM EDT.

Doppler radar detected strong thunderstorms along a line from Leesburg Airport to 7 miles west of Mascotte to near Wesley Chapel South, moving east at 30 mph.

These storms are expected to bring wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail. 

Gusty winds could potentially knock down tree limbs and cause minor damage to unsecured objects, while hail may result in minor damage to vegetation.

Locations likely to be impacted include Apopka, Winter Garden, Leesburg, Eustis, and Tavares.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take precautionary measures. If outdoors, seek shelter inside a building immediately. Additionally, be aware of frequent cloud-to-ground lightning associated with these storms. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a thunderstorm, so seek shelter indoors or in a hard-topped vehicle when thunder roars.