Severe Thunderstorms, Isolated Tornadoes Possible as Cold Front Smacks Tampa Bay Area

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay area’s long streak of sunny, comfortable days is coming to an end. The National Weather Service says a cold front is getting ready to descend on the region, bringing rain and the potential for severe conditions along with it.

Forecasters anticipate Monday will start out with mostly cloudy skies and a high in the low 80s in much of the region. Conditions are expected to change heading into the afternoon hours as storms move into the region. There’s about a 40 percent chance of rain in the afternoon hours with a 60 percent chance forecast heading into the evening hours. The overnight low is expected to fall into the low 70s.

Tuesday is expected to be a soggy one with a 70 percent chance of showers forecast in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The day’s high is anticipated to only climb into the upper 70s. Rain chances persist heading into the overnight hours when a low in the mid-60s is expected.

Storms that move into Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee Counties on Monday and Tuesday have the potential to be severe, forecasters warn.

“The strongest storms will be capable of producing isolated tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and locally heavy rainfall,” the service warned in its Monday Hazardous Weather Outlook report. People are urged to “move indoors immediately,” if threatening weather approaches their area.

Motorists are also warned that dense fog is possible in the late evening and early morning hours this week. “Visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile,” the weather service warned. “If driving, slow down. Use your low beam headlines and leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.”

Once storms move out of the region on Tuesday, forecasters anticipate at least a one day reprieve. Wednesday is forecast to have mostly sunny conditions in much of the region with a high in the upper 70s expected. Partly cloudy skies are expected with a low around 60 degrees in the overnight hours.

Showers move back into the forecast on Thursday with a 40 percent chance expected in the day and evening hours. The high should reach only the low 70s with a low in the low 50s.

Friday is expected to bring breezy, but mostly sunny conditions. The day’s high will be noticeably cooler, however, with only about 60 degrees anticipated in much of the region. The overnight low is expected to drop into the upper 40s.

Cooler temperatures and mostly sunny conditions are expected through the weekend.

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

Image via Shutterstock