Tampa Bay Weekend Weather: Mild with a Warning for Boaters, Beachgoers

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents with big weekend plans are likely to find the weather most cooperative if they’re landlubbers. Small craft operators, however, are being warned of the potential for hazardous conditions on the water in the days ahead. Beachgoers may also find red tide conditions in some coastal areas.

According to the National Weather Service, Friday is expected to kick off the weekend in much of the Tampa Bay area with partly sunny conditions and a high in the mid-80s. A mostly cloudy night is anticipated with a low around 70 degrees. Rain isn’t in the cards in much of the region, but places like Lakeland could see a few drops fall.

Saturday is expected to start off as a near repeat of Friday, but rain chances do creep into the picture in the afternoon hours. The day’s high should once again reach the mid-80s. Slight chances for rain stick around into the nighttime hours when the low is expected to drop to about 70 degrees in much of the region.

Sunday is expected to bring the weekend’s biggest chance for rain at roughly 40 percent heading into the afternoon hours. The day kicks off with a 20 percent chance for thunderstorms with a high around 85 degrees anticipated. Those rain chances stick around into the early evening hours. Partly cloudy conditions are likely after any storms that develop move out. The evening low is forecast at 70 degrees.

While conditions on land are anticipated to be mild with east northeast winds that range from 7 to 11 mph, small craft boaters may encounter different conditions in Gulf of Mexico waters. The weather service is warning that winds up to 20 knots may create hazardous conditions each evening through the weekend.

Beach lovers are also being warned of the potential for respiratory irritation in some coastal areas in Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas counties. A persisting red tide bloom prompted the weather service to issue a beach hazards statement for those three counties for the weekend.

Severe weather isn’t in the cards for the region over the weekend. Those looking ahead to the start of next workweek will find that Monday is expected to deliver mostly sunny conditions with a high around 85 degrees in much of the region. Rain is possible in a few places, but the chances are slight. Partly cloudy conditions are expected overnight with a low around 70.

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

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