Drizzly, Cooler With A Warning For Boaters: Tampa Bay Weekend Weather

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents might want to keep their umbrellas handy as the weekend gets under way, and jackets available for the overnight hours. Despite a drizzly start though, forecasters at the National Weather Service say the next few days won’t be a total washout.

Friday is expected to be a bit of a mess throughout the region with a 40 percent chance of showers forecast for the Tampa and Lakeland areas. Those rain chances rise to 50 percent in Sarasota. Courtesy of cloud cover and storms, folks can expect the day’s high to only reach the low 60s. A chilly night is also on tap with a low in the upper 40s anticipated throughout the area.

Friday’s likely storms have also given rise to a warning for boaters with plans to hit the open water. Forecasters expect breezy northerly winds around 20 knots. Those winds are expected to create choppy conditions with seas of 6 to 9 feet throughout the region.

“Fisherman and other small craft operators may want to postpone trips until conditions improve,” the weather service warned in Friday’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report. Conditions are expected to remain unfavorable on local waters through Saturday.

While Saturday might not be a good day for boaters, landlubbers are likely to enjoy the daytime conditions. Forecasters expect mostly sunny skies with a high in the low 70s throughout the region. Partly cloudy overnight conditions are expected with a low in the upper 50s.

Warmer temperatures and mostly sunny conditions are anticipated Sunday. The day’s high should climb to near 80 degrees. Rain chances move back in during the overnight hours, but they’re slight at 10 percent. The overnight low is expected to drop to the mid-60s.

Monday is expected to kick off the workweek with a 20 percent chance of showers in much of the region. The day’s high, however, is anticipated to reach the low 80s with any storms likely to clear out by the overnight hours.

To see an extended forecast for your neighborhood, visit your local Patch's homepage.

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