Severe Storms Possible In Tampa Bay Area

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents will want to keep an eye on the weather over the next few days. Storms are anticipated to roll into the region Wednesday afternoon and they’re expected to stick around for a few days at least.

Wednesday’s forecast starts out mild with sunny conditions and a high in the mid-80s expected. That begins to change heading into the afternoon hours when a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms is forecast followed by a 40 percent chance in the overnight hours.

“Increasing moisture and instability will allow scattered thunderstorms to develop over the region today during the mid- and late afternoon hours,” weather service forecasters wrote in Wednesday’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report. Those storms “will be capable of producing locally heavy rains, strong gusty winds, frequent lightning strikes and some small hail.”

Thursday is anticipated to bring a 50 percent chance of storms in the daytime hours and a slightly cooler high temperature around 82 degrees in much of the region. Overnight, storm chances drop to about 30 percent. Showers are also likely with a 60 percent chance on Friday during the daytime and about 30 percent overnight. The day’s high should reach about 82 degrees.

Showers are anticipated to stick around through Saturday, but conditions should clear by Sunday.

Forecasters say a stalled frontal boundary mixed with upper level energy will support scattered thunderstorms over the region Thursday through Saturday.

“Rather cold temperatures aloft combined with daytime heating will produce strong instability over the region which will increase the potential for strong to severe storms each day,” Wednesday’s weather report said. Concerns related to those storms include “large hail and damaging downburst winds. In addition frequent deadly lightning strikes and locally heavy rains will accompany the storms.”

Forecasters say the best storm coverage is likely east of the Interstate 75 corridor each afternoon. Small craft operators are also urged to take care on Tampa Bay area waters as the week continues.

Last week, the Tampa Bay area witnessed the formation of three tornadoes as storms rolled into the area on Thursday. Two tornadoes were confirmed in Pinellas County and one in Pasco. All three were rated EF-0 by the National Weather Service.

For an extended forecast in your neighborhood, visit your local Patch’s homepage.

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