A strong cold front produced wide spread wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph across east central Florida.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MLB wrote it up.
A strong cold front produced wide spread wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph across east central Florida.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 18, 1:00 PM EST, 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
100 PM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 315 AM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
- A strong cold front will move across east central Florida
today, bringing increasing rain chances out ahead of it.
- Northwest winds behind the front become strong and gusty, with
a 10% chance of gusts up to 50 mph across the area. A Wind
Advisory will be in effect for all of east central Florida
today.
- Temperatures quickly fall behind the front, with a return of
well below-normal temperatures and bitter wind chills. A Freeze
Warning and Cold Weather Advisory will both be in effect for
portions of east central Florida late tonight into early Monday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 315 AM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
Today-Tonight...A strong cold front will approach and move
southward across east central Florida today, bringing a variety of
weather concerns along with it. Rain chances increase out ahead
of the front, with the first showers already beginning to develop
early this morning across far northern portions of the area.
Coverage is forecast to increase from north to south as the front
moves southward across the area, with rain chances decreasing by
this afternoon as the front moves south of east central Florida. A
lack of instability will limit any storm development, so have
continued to leave out any mention of thunder within the forecast.
Immediately along and behind the front, winds veer to out of the
northwest, with windy and gusty conditions forecast areawide.
Sustained winds are anticipated to reach 15 to 25 mph and gusts of
35 to 45 mph will be possible. There is also a low chance (10%)
for a gust to 50 mph in some spots. A Wind Advisory will go into
effect at 10 AM for the Orlando and Daytona Beach areas, expanding
southward to the Space and Treasure Coast areas at 12 PM. Winds
are anticipated to subside below advisory threshold by 5 PM,
though breezy and gusty conditions are anticipated to continue
into the late evening and overnight hours.
A sharp temperature gradient will be present across east central
Florida as a result of the cold front passage today. Highs will
range from the low 60s across northern Volusia and Lake counties
all the way to the low 80s across the Treasure Coast. Temperatures
will rapidly cool as the front moves southward, which will be
noticeable when in combination with the windy and gusty
conditions. The northwesterly winds will help advect the colder
air mass towards east central Florida, resulting in sharply colder
temperatures tonight. Overnight lows are forecast to fall into
the upper 20s to upper 30s across most of east central Florida,
with the coldest temperatures primarily focused across the
interior and rural areas. A Freeze Warning will be in effect late
tonight into early Monday morning for Lake, Seminole, Orange,
Osceola, and Volusia counties. Aside from temperatures simply
being cold, the persistent breezy and gusty winds will cause wind
chill values to fall below 30 degrees across most of east central
Florida. Therefore, a Cold Weather Advisory will also be in effect
for all of east central Florida except coastal Martin County.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately,
protect sensitive plants, keep pets indoors, and use any space
heaters safely.
Monday-Wednesday...Behind the cold front, an area of high
pressure is forecast to build across the southeastern US,
gradually shifting eastward and off the coast out across the
Atlantic by mid-week. Locally, this will result in a return of
mostly dry conditions areawide as the cool, dry air mass settles
southward. Rain chances remain near zero Monday through Wednesday.
North winds persist into Monday, slowly becoming northeasterly by
mid- week as the high shifts offshore. Breezy conditions will
also persist, with winds of 10 to 15 mph forecast each afternoon.
Temperatures on Monday afternoon will be below-normal in the mid
50s to mid 60s areawide with yet another night of cold
temperatures anticipated Monday night into Tuesday morning. Lows
fall into the mid 30s to mid 40s and even though freezing
temperatures aren't anticipated to be a concern, persistent breezy
winds Monday night will lead to wind chill values falling into
the upper 20s to mid 30s across most of the interior west of I-95.
An additional Cold Weather Advisory may be needed for interior
zones of east central Florida Monday night into Tuesday. Patchy
frost also cannot be ruled out Monday night into Tuesday across
northern rural portions of Lake and Volusia counties, though
confidence remains low. Tuesday and Wednesday, afternoon
temperatures begin to slowly warm closer to near-normal values in
the 60s and low 70s. One more night of near to slightly below
normal temperatures on Tuesday night in the 40s to mid 50s,
warming into the 50s areawide by Wednesday night.
Thursday-Saturday...Looking into the extended period, the next
best chance for rain begins on Thursday out ahead of the next
potential cold front passage. Timing discrepancies between long-
range guidance has led the NBM to maintain a 20-40% chance of rain
Thursday through Friday, so have stuck with this for now given
uncertainty. The expectation is that PoPs will trend more towards
one day as the timing becomes clearer. High pressure will then
strengthen across the southeastern US late this week and into next
weekend behind the front, leading to a return of drier conditions
across the peninsula and some low chances for showers across the
local Atlantic waters. The warming trend continues late this week
into next weekend, with a return of near to above normal
temperatures forecast areawide
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 315 AM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
A strong cold front will approach and move across the local
Atlantic waters today, with rain chances forecast to increase out
ahead of the front. Scattered to numerous showers will be possible
across the local waters, with rain chances dropping quickly as
the front moves south of the area. Immediately behind the front,
boating conditions are anticipated to rapidly deteriorate and
become hazardous. Strong, gusty northwest winds are forecast to
develop, with wind speeds of 15 to 30 knots and gale-force gusts
possible. Seas respond by rapidly building up to 8 feet across the
offshore waters, remaining closer to 4-6 feet across the
nearshore waters. Small Craft Advisories expand across the local
waters with the wind surge and linger across the Gulf Stream
waters due to the higher seas into Monday.
Conditions slowly improve into Monday as winds and seas subside,
with dry conditions returning as high pressure builds just north
of the area. By Tuesday, the passage of a reinforcing front will
lead to another surge of poor boating conditions across the
offshore waters Tuesday into Wednesday. Poor conditions then
persist as onshore winds increase on Wednesday and back to out of
the north on Thursday ahead of the next potential frontal passage.
Rain chances reenter the forecast on Thursday.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFs)
Issued at 100 PM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
Strong cold front is pushing through the area, with a strong NW
wind surge occurring behind the front. Peak gusts to 40-55 mph
have been recently observed across the I-4 corridor
(DAB/SFB/MCO/ISM). Front is forecast to reach KMLB-KSUA from
around 19-20Z, so expect similar peak gusts at these sites as the
front quickly blows through. These higher gusts will be brief,
but breezy to windy conditions with gusts up to 35-40 mph will
continue for at least a couple hours behind the frontal passage.
Cigs will also drop to MVFR behind the front, with any showers
producing IFR/MVFR visibilities. Conditions will gradually
improve to VFR into the evening and overnight, as drier air moving
in behind the front will lead to decreasing clouds. Clear skies
forecast on Monday, with northerly winds around 10-15 knots and
gust up to 20 knots along the coast.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 315 AM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
Sensitive to near-critical fire weather conditions are forecast
over the next couple of days. Today, strong, gusty northwest winds
are forecast immediately behind a cold front, with sustained
winds of 15 to 25 mph forecast and gusts of 35 to 50 mph possible.
While minimum RH values will not be a concern, these winds could
lead to control concerns for any existing or smoldering fires.
Monday, minimum RH values will tank as dry air settles across the
area, with RH values falling below 35% across the interior west of
I-95. Periods of 10 to 15 mph winds will also be possible on
Monday, leading to near- critical conditions at times.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DAB 34 57 38 60 / 0 0 0 0
MCO 36 58 40 64 / 0 0 0 0
MLB 37 60 44 67 / 0 0 0 0
VRB 38 62 46 69 / 0 0 0 0
LEE 32 57 35 61 / 0 0 0 0
SFB 34 58 37 63 / 0 0 0 0
ORL 36 58 39 63 / 0 0 0 0
FPR 38 63 45 70 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 4 PM EST this afternoon for FLZ041-044>046-
053-141-144.
Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM EST Monday
for FLZ041-044>046-053-058-141-144-154-159-247-254-259-264-
347-447-547-647-747.
Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM EST Monday for
FLZ041-044>046-053-141-144.
Wind Advisory until 5 PM EST this afternoon for FLZ058-154-159-
164-247-254-259-264-347-447-547-647-747.
AM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM EST Monday for AMZ550.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EST Monday for AMZ552.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EST Monday for AMZ555-575.
Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM EST Monday for AMZ570.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EST Monday for AMZ572.
&&
DISCUSSION...Tollefsen
AVIATION...WeitlichPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
1251 PM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1221 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Orlando Exec Airport 28.55N 81.33W
01/18/2026 M56 MPH Orange FL ASOS
The ASOS at the Orlando Executive Airport
measured a wind gust of 56MPH/49KTS from the
west.
&&
ZLPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
1253 PM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1227 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SW Orlando Internatio 28.42N 81.33W
01/18/2026 M54 MPH Orange FL ASOS
The ASOS at the Orlando International
Airport measured a wind gust of 54MPH/47KTS
from the west.
&&
ZLPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
1257 PM EST Sun Jan 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1225 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SW Kissimmee 28.28N 81.43W
01/18/2026 M51 MPH Osceola FL AWOS
The AWOS at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport
measured a wind gust of 51MPH/44KTS from the
northwest.
&&
ZLThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
USSF wind sensor on tower 0940 measured a peak wind gust of 51 knots from the northwest.
USSF wind sensor on tower 0300 measured a peak wind gust of 51 knots from the northwest.
Melbourne International Airport measured a peak wind gust of 50 knots from the west.
St. Lucie County International Airport measured a peak wind gust of 52 knots from the west.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, January 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1310147, 1310148, 1310149, 1310150.