Tampa is starting Sunday, February 15, 2026, with mild, mostly sunny skies and temperatures headed toward an afternoon high near 79°F. South-southeast winds are expected to pick up through the afternoon, with gusts around 25 to 30 mph ahead of a line of showers and thunderstorms. A few isolated showers could develop after 5 p.m., with rain becoming much more widespread from late Sunday evening into the overnight hours.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
South-southeast winds will ramp up to around 6 to 20 mph this afternoon, with stronger gusts near 25 to 28 mph, especially along the coast. A Small Craft Advisory and elevated surf are in effect for many Gulf waters, so smaller boats may want to stay tied up, according to the National Weather Service. Beachgoers should be ready for rough surf and strong offshore currents.
Evening Storms And Severe Threat
A line of showers and thunderstorms will move into the Tampa area late Sunday afternoon and evening, becoming most widespread between about 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., with periods of heavy rain possible. Southwest winds tonight could gust to around 25 mph, and new rainfall totals of about one half to three quarters of an inch are possible in heavier cells. The northern portion of the forecast area, roughly north of Bradenton, has the higher chance for a few stronger storms and an isolated tornado, while damaging wind gusts will be the main concern elsewhere.
Beaches And Boaters
The National Weather Service issued a Rip Current Statement on Saturday warning of dangerous rip currents from Sunday afternoon through late Sunday night for Pinellas, coastal Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. Swimmers are urged to stay close to lifeguards and avoid venturing into the rough surf. Boaters should follow the Small Craft Advisory and plan for choppy seas and gusty winds through the overnight hours. For background on local marine alerts, see our coverage of recent coastal advisories.
If you have outdoor plans tonight, consider moving them inside or shifting them tomorrow, and give yourself extra time on the roads during the evening commute. If you are heading to the beach, swim near a lifeguard, and if you get caught in a rip current, relax, float, and swim parallel to the shore until you can break free or call for help.
