Rain Chances Creep Into Christmas Day Forecast

The Tampa Bay area is in for a wet holiday week, including a chance for rain on Christmas Day.

That’s the latest from the National Weather Service as a cold front begins to make its way into the area.

Storms are expected to begin moving into the Bay area Monday afternoon. While the high should almost reach 80, storm chances are set at 40 percent. Those chances continue to run between 30 to 50 percent overnight Monday through Wednesday.

While earlier forecasts called for a sunny Christmas Day, the weather service has adjusted its outlook. As of Monday afternoon, forecasters were calling for a 30 percent chance of showers on Thursday. The high that day should only reach about 65 with an overnight low around 50. Rain is anticipated to move out of the area by Friday. The forecast to kick off the weekend calls for mostly sunny skies and a high around 68.

Storms in the earlier part of the week could be potentially heavy with the possibility of gusty winds and deadly lightning strikes. A storm system moving through from the Midwest gets the blame for conditions that are beginning to deteriorate across the eastern seaboard, giving rise to concerns about the potential for holiday travel delays.

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

See Also:

• Heavy Storms Could Impact Holiday Travel
• How To Check For Holiday Flight Delays in Tampa Bay

Patch File Photo