Feels Like 108 Degrees, Storm Chances Through Weekend: FL Weather

FLORIDA — Summer heat and humidity will scorch the Tampa Bay region with predicted high temperatures in the upper 90s Wednesday through Saturday, along with daily rain and storm chances.

The weather in much of the Southeast will be typical of early to mid-July with plenty of heat, high humidity and intense sunshine, AccuWeather said. A surge of heat at the end of June and at the start of July helped to prime residents and visitors in the Southeast for the stifling conditions.

AccuWeather meteorologists say Florida's temperatures will continue to be several degrees above average into this weekend. Widespread high temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s are forecast.

The heat and moisture can lead to pop-up thunderstorm activity just about any day in the Southeast through the weekend. As most long-time residents know, these "garden variety" storms can be rather intense for a short time with loud claps of thunder, gusty winds and torrential downpours, AccuWeather said.

In the Miami area expect similar pop-up storms, with highs around 90 degrees.

Here's the National Weather Service forecast for Tampa Bay through the weekend:

Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 109. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. North northwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 108. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 79. West wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. High near 94. West southwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Low around 79. West southwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 93. West wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Low around 79. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly cloudy, with a low around 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Here's the Miami area forecast from the NWS:

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 103. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 82. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 90. Heat index values as high as 105. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Low around 81. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 81. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 8 to 13 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 81. South wind 7 to 10 mph.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 81.