'Excessive Heat' Ahead for Tampa Bay

With relatively low thunderstorm chances, highs predicted in the mid-90s and only light winds, the National Weather Service says Tampa Bay area residents should brace for a hot weekend.

“Excessive heat” will be felt throughout much of the weekend as “hot and humid conditions” continue Saturday and Sunday, according to the weather service’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report. Forecasters say the heat index, or feels-like temperature, could climb as high as 108 as the weekend rolls on.

“It’s going to be hot,” said Tom Dougherty, a weather service meteorologist. “Any rain that forms will probably be real late in the afternoon.”

Those rain chances, Dougherty said, are only set in the 20 percent change range at this point.

“Summer’s not over yet,” he said.

While forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are keeping a wary eye out on a disturbance forming near the Virgin Islands, Dougherty said there’s not much of an immediate concern for the Tampa Bay area.

“So far, it’s just a disturbance,” he said. “It’s much ado about nothing for us.”

For a complete look at the forecast, visit the National Weather Service online.

Photo Credit: Image via Shutterstock