Thanksgiving Week 2016 Weather: Warmer Temps, Fire Risk in Tampa Bay’s Forecast

TAMPA, FL — Residents in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties who are hoping for a slightly warmer Thanksgiving Day are in luck, but they’ll have to endure a few more chilly ones first.

According to the National Weather Service, Monday is expected to kick off the holiday week with crisp temperatures across the region. While sunny conditions are expected, the day’s high may only reach the upper 60s. A clear overnight sky is anticipated with an overnight low in the upper 40s.

Tuesday kicks off a warming trends of sorts. Sunny conditions are expected to return with a high in the mid- to upper-70s in much of the region. Rain is not in the forecast. Tuesday night will bring mostly clear conditions and a low in the upper 50s.

The warming continues Wednesday when forecasters expect mostly sunny skies and a high in the upper 70s throughout much of the region. Partly cloudy skies will cap off the evening hours with a low around 60 degrees in the forecast.

Thanksgiving Day is expected to be a beautiful one in the Tampa Bay area. Forecasters anticipate a high around 80 degrees and mostly sunny skies. Partly cloudy skies should cap off the evening with a low in the lower 60s in much of the region.

Forecasters expect Friday to be a near repeat of Thursday with a high around 80 degrees and sunny conditions. Slightly cooler temperatures are expected over the weekend.

While rain isn’t expected to fall over the week ahead, that’s not necessarily good news as the region’s dry streak continues. The weather service has issued a red flag warning for fire risk in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Lee counties through Monday at least. Rain isn’t expected to become a strong possibility until early next week at the earliest, according to The Weather Channel.

Earlier this month, the Florida Forest Service issued a warning about enhanced wildfire risk as dry conditions continued. At that time, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam reported that 2,489 wildfires had damaged 69,467 acres across the state so far in 2016.

The state estimates that nearly 20 percent of its wildfires are caused by yard trash burns that have embers escape. Human carelessness, in fact, is the leading cause of wildfires in the Sunshine State, Putnam said.

In the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties, the fire danger risk ranged from high to extreme on Nov. 20, according to the state. The following map shows risks across the Sunshine State:

To prevent wildfires, the state recommends these tips when using fire outdoors:

• Never leave a heat source or fire unattended
• Avoid burning items on windy, dry days
• Keep a water source or fire-suppression tool on hand
• Make certain fires meet the state’s requirements for setbacks
• For burn piles larger than 8 feet or acreage burns, residents should call the Florida Forest Service for authorization
• Make sure fires are completely extinguished before leaving

For more information on wildfires, county burn bans and fire dangers, visit the state’s website.

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

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