Weekend Weather: Sunny Days, Red Tide

Tampa Bay area residents ready to get out and enjoy some mild weather should have no trouble over the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, the forecast calls for sunny, warm days with little chance for rain. Overnight temperatures throughout the weekend should fall into the comfortable mid- to upper 60s, too.

While the weather should make for a good beach weekend, forecasters do note that beachgoers in the Sarasota area could encounter some difficulties at some beaches courtesy of a small patch of red tide located in the northern part of the county. A warning about that patch issued earlier in the week has been extended through 10 p.m. Oct. 19. The beach hazard statement only applies to the Sarasota area and beachgoers can check on status reports for beaches throughout the Tampa Bay area by visiting the Mote Marine Laboratory online.

Red tide is an algae that occurs naturally in the Gulf that can cause respiratory irritations when it accumulates in large amounts. Toxins in red tide can “enter the air and cause respiratory irritation among beachgoers, such as coughing, sneezing or a scratchy throat,” the Mote Marine Laboratory explains on its website. Mote scientists conduct year-round monitoring of Bay area waters.

Here’s a look at how forecasters anticipate the weekend to shape up after Friday’s high in the upper 80s and low in the upper 60s:

Saturday

• High temperature – Mid- to upper 80s
• Low temperature – Around 68
• Rain chances – Not anticipated

Sunday

• High temperature – Low 80s
• Low temperature – Mid-60s
• Rain chances – Not anticipated

Monday is expected to kick off the workweek with a high in the low 80s anticipated and a low in the mid- 60s yet again. No rain was in the forecast for Monday as of Friday afternoon.

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