Tampa woke up to a sticky, mostly cloudy start today, with temperatures already near 84F and humidity pushing the feels-like reading even higher. Forecasters are calling for a high near 93F and scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, with heat-index values climbing into the 100s in some neighborhoods.
A Heat Advisory is in effect Tuesday, July 28 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for parts of the Nature Coast Coastal and Inland Levy, Coastal and Inland Citrus, and Sumter counties warning of dangerous afternoon heat. The National Weather Service has the advisory details and the full forecast at NWS Tampa Bay.
Afternoon Storms And Flooding Risk
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to fire up by late morning and peak during the afternoon, bringing brief heavy downpours that can quickly pond on roads and cut visibility. Most areas should pick up only a few tenths of an inch of rain, but isolated storms could drop a quarter to a half inch by Wednesday, which bumps up the risk of localized street flooding in low-lying spots and urban neighborhoods.
Winds And Beach Safety
Winds will run west-southwest at about 2 to 9 mph today, then strengthen to roughly 7 to 13 mph on Wednesday, July 29, with gusts near 20 mph along the coast. That is enough to increase rip-current risk and make conditions choppy. If you are heading to the beach, check the latest marine forecast and follow local lifeguard flag warnings before getting in the water.
Heat Safety And Cooling Options
Anyone without reliable air conditioning should consider using public cooling centers and other relief options while the advisory is in effect. The City of Tampa posts information on cooling locations and heat-safety guidance for residents.
This story updates yesterday's Hoodline coverage of the same hot, stormy pattern and clarifies advisory timing and flood potential north of the bay. For background, see Tampa turns into a steam room. A frontal boundary late Wednesday, July 29 into Thursday, July 30, could broaden storm coverage and raise the flood threat as soils become saturated.
Bottom line for the week: avoid strenuous outdoor work from late morning through midafternoon, keep water handy, and be ready to move outdoor plans inside if storms roll in or the heat gets too intense. Check the NWS and local city updates before heading out this afternoon and through the rest of the week.
