Severe Storms Possible As Front Moves Into Region

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay area is likely in for a rough couple days in the weather department.

According to the National Weather Service, an area of low pressure is expected to move into the area Thursday, bringing with it a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms heading into the overnight hours.

“A few of the thunderstorms could become strong to severe toward Friday morning and (may) contain strong, gusty winds and possibly a tornado,” the weather service’s Thursday Hazardous Weather Outlook report warned.

With cloudy, overcast conditions anticipated on Thursday, the day’s high is expected to only reach the upper 60s with an overnight low in the low 60s.

Friday is expected to kick off with a 90 percent chance of showers with conditions gradually improving into the evening hours. The morning hours, the service warned, bring the greatest potential for strong to severe storms and the possibility of tornado formation.

The warnings for potentially severe weather include Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Polk counties, among others.

See Also:

• Photos: Cape Coral Tornado Left Damage In Its Wake
• Severe Storms, Tornadoes in Tampa Bay’s Winter Forecast

Friday’s high is anticipated to reach the low 70s with a low around 60 in much of the Bay area.

Saturday is expected to kick off with drier conditions and a high in the low 70s. Conditions are expected to change in the overnight hours and into Sunday with a 50 percent chance of showers predicted.

Weather service meteorologist Robert Garcia urges residents to keep a close eye on the weather over the next few days.

“Stay aware,” he said, recommending people download weather alert apps to their smartphones and/or make sure they have a weather radio in their homes.

When tornado activity is possible it’s a good idea to have an app or radio that will sound a loud alert in the middle of the night, if necessary, he said.

“The weather radios are so loud they’ll wake you up in the middle of the night,” he said.

Weather radios are available at most big box stores, drug stores and some grocery stores, Garcia said. Weather alert apps are available for smartphones. The weather service doesn’t make any recommendations on which ones to use, but Garcia said “we recommend folks have multiple means (of getting alerts).”

With El Nino conditions expected to persist through the winter, the Tampa Bay area could be in for more severe weather over the coming weeks and months. Strong storms and tornados, such as the one that touched down in Cape Coral last week, tend to go hand-in-hand with El Nino weather patterns.

To learn more about severe weather safety, visit the National Weather Service online.

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