Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued for Tampa Bay Region

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents are being warned to keep their eyes on the sky as a cold front moves into the region. Forecasters at the National Weather Service anticipate the potential for severe weather over the next day with poor boating conditions also likely to be a concern through Friday evening.

The brunt of storm activity is expected to move through the area on Tuesday, Dec. 6 with a 70 percent chance of showers likely in much of the region. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected with a few of those storms having the potential to be severe. The strongest storms are likely to strike the Nature Coast area, according to the weather service’s Tuesday Hazardous Weather Outlook report.

“The strongest storms will be capable of producing isolated tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and locally heavy rainfall,” the agency warned.

Despite the potential for storms, forecasters expect Tuesday's high temperature to climb to the upper 70s with an overnight low in the mid-60s expected. Storms are expected to clear out by Wednesday when mostly sunny conditions are expected. That day’s high should reach only the mid-70s with an overnight low of about 60 degrees forecast for much of the region.

Thursday is expected to kick off with mostly cloudy conditions with storm chances moving in during the afternoon hours. The day’s high is expected to reach the low 70s with a low in the lower 50s forecast.

While the potential for severe weather on land is likely to pass after Tuesday, the same cannot be said on Tampa Bay area waters. A secondary cold front moving into the area on Thursday night and Friday is expected to keep conditions quite choppy on local waters.

“Winds over the Gulf waters will be to around 20 knots with seas of 8 to 10 feet,” the weather service warned. This, in turn, will create dangerous conditions, especially for small craft operators. Conditions are expected to improve overnight Friday.

Beachgoers are also being warned of the potential for rip currents.

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

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