Hazardous Weather Warnings Go Up Throughout the Bay

As a strong cold front moves into the Tampa Bay area, forecasters at the National Weather Service in Ruskin are warning residents of the potential for hazardous conditions.

That agency has issued a wind chill advisory, a high surf advisory and a rip current statement for the region. Temperatures in the Tampa Bay area are anticipated to plummet overnight Wednesday into the 30s with a high on Thursday only in the 50s.

The following warnings have been issued for the Bay area:

Wind Chill Advisory

This advisory includes Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Hillsborough and Manatee counties, along with others in the west central area. It goes into effect at 1 a.m. Thursday and is set to expire at 10 a.m.

Wind chills throughout much of the Bay are expected to be between 25 and 35 degrees during this time frame. Those along the Nature Coast may experience wind chills in the 15- to 25-degree range.

High Surf Advisory

The advisory goes into effect at 10 p.m. Wednesday and expires at 4 p.m. Thursday. It affects the coastal areas of Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough counties.

Forecasters say north winds of up to 30 knots are anticipated to build a surf of about 5 feet through Thursday afternoon. Beachgoers are urged to heed lifeguard warnings.

Rip Current Statement

Forecasters anticipate a high risk of rip currents in the coastal areas of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Dangerous conditions are anticipated to last from about 10 p.m. Wednesday until 4 p.m. Thursday.

Rip currents are very powerful channels of water that flow quickly away from the shore. Swimmers who are caught in them are advised to remain calm and swim parallel to the shore. Once away from the force of the current, swimmers can begin to head back to shore. It is not advised, however, to “attempt to swim directly against a rip current,” the weather service states. “Even a strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.”

Again, the weather service urges beachgoers to heed lifeguard warnings.

For a complete look at the local weather, visit the National Weather Service online.

Keep up with what’s happening around town and the state by signing up for the Clearwater Patch newsletter!

See Also:

• Frigid Weather Moving into Bay Area

Patch File Photo