Tampa rolled out of bed Thursday to pockets of patchy fog, with drivers and early-morning boaters dealing with murky views on the commute. The haze will not last all day, though. Skies should clear by midday, and the afternoon is set to warm up nicely, with a high near 81°F and a light south-southwest breeze.
According to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay, a persistent southerly flow will keep daytime highs running about 5 to 10 degrees above normal into the weekend and will keep feeding those nightly rounds of patchy inland and sea fog. Some of that coastal fog may drift onshore at times and briefly knock down visibility across Tampa Bay and the nearby Gulf waters.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
Patchy fog is most likely before noon today and again in the pre-dawn hours overnight, with most spots clearing out to mostly sunny, breezy conditions by early afternoon. Tampa International and other area terminals could briefly dip into MVFR to LIFR conditions during the thickest fog, so it is worth building in a little extra time if you have an early flight.
Weekend Front Brings Showers, Then Big Cool-Down
A cold front is on track to push through on Sunday, bringing the best chance for showers and a few storms late Saturday night into Sunday, along with winds that could gust into the low 20s mph. Behind the front, temperatures take a noticeable dive, with highs near 60°F Monday and lows dropping into the 30s inland early next week, and freezing readings possible across parts of the Nature Coast, per the National Weather Service Tampa Bay.
Plan to secure loose outdoor items ahead of Sunday’s gusty winds, protect tender plants from Sunday night into Tuesday, and give yourself extra time for any pre-dawn travel this weekend. For a look at how this foggy stretch has been playing out, check out our earlier coverage: Tampa Smothered in Thick Fog Before Sky-High Afternoon Warmup.
