Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued For Tampa Bay Area

TAMPA, FL – Tampa Bay area residents with big outdoor plans over the weekend may find the weather anything but cooperative. The National Weather Service anticipates heavy rain over the next few days as an area of disturbed weather makes its way across the southern and central part of the state.

Friday is expected to be a bit of a washout with as much as 3 inches of rain possible in some areas. The rain that started in some parts of the region in the early morning hours is expected to spread north as the day continues. Sunshine may peak through the clouds at times, but forecasters don't expect it last for too long.

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“The storms will increase to scattered to numerous coverage during the afternoon hours,” the service wrote in Friday morning’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report. Thunderstorms that crop up, forecasters warn, could deliver locally heavy rains, frequent lightning strikes and strong winds.

“Rainfall amounts could be 2 to 3 inches, but with isolated higher amounts possible,” the report noted. The heaviest rains are expected in the southern parts of the region where street flooding and small stream flooding could also be concerns.

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While rain dominates Friday’s forecast, a high around 90 degrees is still expected. The heat index may climb to 100 degrees, forecasters say. Storms are expected to continue into the overnight hours with a low that only drops into the upper 70s forecast.

Forecasters expect a return of soggy weather on Saturday with a 60 percent chance of showers and storms forecast in the daytime hours. The high may only reach the upper 80s, but heat index values around 100 degrees are still possible in some parts of the region. Forecasters anticipate storms to continue into the overnight hours with a low in the upper 70s forecast.

Sunday may bring slightly drier conditions, but there’s still a 50 percent chance for scattered thunderstorms as the day progresses. The high is expected to climb into the low 90s with partly sunny conditions possible when storms aren’t present. Rain chances dry up to about 20 percent heading into the overnight hours when the low is expected to drop into the mid-70s.

For an extended look at the forecast in your neighborhood, visit your local Patch’s homepage.

Patch file photo