Tampa Bay Weekend Weather: Storms Won't Squelch Heat at First

TAMPA BAY, FL — Tampa Bay area residents with big outdoor plans this weekend might want to keep their umbrellas handy. Forecasters at the National Weather Service say the region’s in for some pretty decent chances of rain over the next few days. That, however, doesn't mean we'll get a break from the heat.

Friday is expected to kick things off with a high in the low 90s and heat index values around 100 degrees. There’s a 40 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon hours. Those storm chances stick around into the nighttime hours when the low is expected to fall to about 76 degrees.

Saturday is anticipated to start off with partly sunny conditions. A high around 91 degrees is expected with heat index values once again reaching about 100. Storm chances move in at 40 percent in the afternoon hours. There’s a 30 percent chance of scattered storms in the cards for Saturday night, too. Once those storms clear, however, forecasters anticipate a partly cloudy evening with a low in the upper 70s.

See also: Tropical Disturbance Edges Closer to Florida; Gaston Weakens for Now

Sunday brings a 60 percent chance of showers in the daytime hours with a high around 90 expected. Showers are also likely heading into the evening when the low should drop into the upper 70s.

With a tropical disturbance threatening to impact local weather, forecasters anticipate the workweek will kick off rather wet. There’s a 70 percent chance of showers on Monday and Tuesday both. The good news, however, is that cloud cover should keep the high temperature both days down a few degrees.

The tropical low currently on the radar of the National Hurricane Center is still surrounded by much uncertainty. Forecasters say conditions may become more conducive for further development of the system as it approaches the Gulf of Mexico late in the weekend or early next week.

“Models are in general agreement in bringing the disturbance northwestward,” the weather service wrote in its Hazardous Weather Outlook report Friday for the Tampa Bay area. With that in mind, residents are urged to keep an eye on this storm as it moves into the Gulf.

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

Patch file photo by Sherri Lonon