Tampa is waking up to a clear but soupy Monday, with temperatures near 73°F and a dew point around 71°F, so it already feels like the humidity is wrapping around you. Skies should stay mostly sunny through the morning, then the usual late-day sea breeze is expected to spark a few spotty inland storms this afternoon.
Afternoon Heat And Spotty Showers
By mid to late afternoon, highs should peak near 93°F with an east breeze of about 6 to 9 mph. After 2 p.m., a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms creeps in. Most of what develops is expected to be brief and isolated, with new rainfall totals generally staying under one tenth of an inch.
Week Ahead And Drought
Looking ahead, Tuesday, May 19, is set to feel even hotter, with heat index values potentially topping out near 98°F. Afternoon storm chances climb to around 50 percent, and from late week into the weekend coverage goes up further, with storm probabilities near 60 percent inland. Even so, the National Weather Service notes that severe to extreme drought persists across much of the region, and these small, scattered storms are not likely to provide meaningful relief, according to NWS Tampa Bay.
Plan Ahead
If you are planning to be outside, expect sticky mornings, then have water handy and a backup plan for those quick-hitting downpours and lightning late in the day that could snarl the evening commute. For more on recent heat and storm trends around Tampa, check out our earlier coverage.
