Weather Warnings Go Up As Cold Fronts Near Tampa Bay

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents may want to batten down the hatches to prepare for a string of cold fronts expected to move into the region. The National Weather Service anticipates the weekend will kick off on a soggy note with storms in the cards. While a brief return to sunny weather is expected Saturday and Sunday, another front is anticipated to move in and then stall over Florida early next week.

According to the weather service, Friday will kick the weekend off with strong rain chances throughout the daytime hours in much of the region. The storms are expected to keep the day’s high in the low 80s. Some of the storms that move in on Friday could produce locally heavy rain, gusty winds and lightning strikes, the agency warned in Friday’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report.

A strong risk of rip currents is also a concern in coastal areas throughout the region on Friday. Beachgoers are being urged to heed lifeguard warnings before diving in.

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Storm chances as expected to dry up heading into the overnight hours Friday when the low should fall into the mid-60s.

Saturday and Sunday are both expected to bring a return of sunshine throughout the Tampa Bay area. Saturday’s high is forecast to reach the mid-80s with an overnight low in the lower 60s. Sunday could be a little steamy with a projected high in the upper 80s and a low near 70 forecast for much of the region.

Conditions are expected to change again for the wetter on Monday. There’s a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms in the daytime hours. While the day’s high is forecast to reach the upper 80s, strong thunderstorm chances creep in during the overnight hours.

The cold front forecast to move into the region Monday night is expected to “stall across the Florida peninsula with lingering thunderstorm chances Tuesday and Wednesday,” the agency’s Friday report said. Once that front moves along, another one is expected to line up right behind it bringing “higher storm chances Wednesday night and Thursday.”

Forecasters are warning that next week’s front could bring strong thunderstorms into the area. A small craft advisory is also possible on Monday as the front approaches the region. Organized, severe weather wasn’t anticipated as of Friday.

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

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