'Torrential Rains’ In Tampa Bay’s Weekend Forecast

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents and visitors ready for the long Labor Day weekend ahead may want to keep their umbrellas handy. According to the National Weather Service, rain is a strong possibility each day through Monday at least.

With conditions throughout the Tampa Bay area already soggy, forecasters warned in Friday’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report that more rain could make matters worse. “Several area rivers will remain in flood stage over the next few days,” the agency warned. “Additional rainfall may worsen or prolong the existing flooding.”

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While organized, severe weather isn’t anticipated, forecasters do say some of the storms that develop over the weekend could be strong. Those that are may bring “gusty winds, frequent lighting and torrential rains” with them, the agency’s report said.

Friday is expected to kick the weekend off with a 40 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms in much of the region. The day’s high, however, is still forecast to climb into the low 90s. Isolated thunderstorms are possible in the overnight hours when the low should fall into the mid-70s.

Saturday is expected to bring a 50 percent chance of scattered storms. Forecasters expect rain to move in after 8 a.m. in some parts of the region. While wet conditions are anticipated, stormy weather is expected keep the day’s high temperature contained in the upper-80 range. A 30 percent chance of scattered storms is anticipated heading into the overnight hours Saturday. The evening low is forecast to fall into the mid-70s.

Partly sunny conditions should kick off Sunday, but a 40 percent chance of storms is also in the cards. Forecasters say storms may linger into the overnight hours when the low should drop into the mid-70s.

Labor Day Monday is expected to bring mostly cloudy skies to the Tampa Bay area. There’s a 40 percent chance of rain during the daytime hours. Those rain chances are expected to stick around into the overnight hours when the low should fall into the upper 70s.

Daily storms are also expected throughout much of the workweek ahead.

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

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