Tampa Bay Weekend Weather: Mild in Hurricane Matthew’s Wake

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents may have to put up with a bit more post-Hurricane Matthew rain on Friday, but once it blows past a mild Columbus Day weekend is anticipated. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday through Monday should bring mostly sunny conditions and daytime highs below 90 degrees in much of the region.

Forecasters at the weather service do expect pretty strong chances for rain and breezy conditions to stick around Friday afternoon and into the nighttime hours. There’s an 80 percent chance of rain in the cards the rest of the day with a 30 percent chance overnight. A daytime high in the low 80s should be followed by an overnight low in the mid-70s.

Saturday is expected to kick off with partly sunny conditions and a high in the mid-80s anticipated. Partly cloudy conditions are expected with a low near 70 degrees overnight Saturday.

A sunny Sunday is on tap, according to the weather service. The day’s high should climb into the upper 80s. Mostly clear conditions are in store Sunday night with a low actually down in the upper 60s in the forecast.

Columbus Day Monday is expected to start out sunny with breezy conditions likely. The day’s high is anticipated to only reach the low 80s in much of the region. Overnight, conditions will become a bit cloudy, the weather service says. A strong breeze is expected to stick around throughout the night with a low in the low 70s forecast. Monday's winds could reach as high as 23 mph, forecasters noted.

Rain was not a part of the forecast for Saturday through Monday as of the weather service's Friday report.

While Matthew’s departure is expected to usher in a few dry days, forecasters do warn that conditions at local beaches are likely to remain perilous until Saturday night. A rip current statement is in effect for coastal Pinellas and Hillsborough counties through 8 p.m. Saturday night as a result.

The run of days without rain in the forecast is expected to end on Tuesday. Forecasters say there’s about a 20 percent chance of isolated storms in the daytime hours. Storm chances increase heading into Wednesday.

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

Patch file photo