Tampa Bay Area Weekend Weather: Mixed Bag

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents with big outdoor plans for the weekend are likely to find the weather mostly cooperative. Storms, however, do remain a possibility, especially on Saturday.

The National Weather Service anticipates Friday will kick things off on a steamy note with a high around 90 degrees in much of the region. With a humidity level of 94 percent, it should also be quite sticky outside. Sunny conditions should start off the day, but thunderstorm chances creep into the picture after 2 p.m.

Storm chances remain in the cards heading into the evening hours Friday when the low is expected to drop into the mid-70s in much of the region.

Saturday brings a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Breaking from the recent pattern somewhat, those storms could roll in during the morning hours, forecasters say. The day’s high should reach the mid-80s with partly sunny conditions anticipated when storms aren’t present.

Stormy conditions should move out heading into the overnight hours Saturday. Partly cloudy conditions and a low around 74 degrees are expected.

Sunday is anticipated to be mostly sunny with a high in the mid- to upper 80s in much of the Tampa Bay area. Rain chances aren’t strong, forecasters say, but that doesn’t mean a few drops won’t fall. The overnight low Sunday should fall into the low 70s with mostly clear conditions expected.

Storms that crop up over the weekend aren’t expected to be severe, but forecasters say they will still be capable of producing strong, gusty winds, heavy rain and some hail. Frequent lightning strikes may also go along with them, the weather service warned in its Hazardous Weather Outlook report Friday.

Mostly sunny conditions are expected to usher in the coming workweek. High temperatures are expected to once again reach the high 80s by Tuesday.

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

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