Rain and High Winds Forecast Tonight

Pinellas Beaches and the rest of Tampa Bay will get a good soaking Tuesday night.

But the storm will not be as severe as forecasted just a day or two ago, the National Weather Service reported.

Showers and thunderstorms are moving across Tampa Bay at rush hour and will continue off and on until after midnight. Winds may gust up to 28 mph, with the chance of rain 70 percent.

“Most of the severe weather is further south,” said Tyler Fleming, a meteorologist at the weather service’s Ruskin office.

The stormy weather has led to a high surf warning, with boaters advised not to venture out tonight.

A large low pressure system that developed off the Yucatan Peninsula had been watched since Monday for possible tropical development. That system, however, has become disorganized and is now moving more east.

While the next day or two could bring some unpleasant weather, Fleming did say there is a payoff.

“(It will be) cooler and drier going into the weekend.”