Tampa woke Wednesday morning to clear skies, 78-degree temperatures and heavy humidity, but the calm will not last. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected after 10 a.m., with a high near 90 and a heat index reaching 98.
Storms Build Through Wednesday Afternoon
The National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin office puts the chance of rain at 50% Wednesday, with showers and thunderstorms becoming more common through the afternoon. Southeast winds will run 2 to 6 mph, and rainfall totals could reach a tenth to a quarter inch.
Storm chances will continue Wednesday night, with scattered storms possible before 7 p.m., another chance through 8 p.m. and additional activity through 11 p.m. The low will be around 75, with a 60% rain chance and possible rainfall totals between a quarter and half inch.
Thursday And Friday Look Wettest
Thursday, August 6, should reach 92 degrees, with the heat index climbing as high as 100. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to become widespread after 1 p.m., bringing an 80% chance of rain and possible rainfall totals between a quarter and half inch.
Friday, August 7, keeps the stormy pattern going, with a high near 92 and widespread showers and thunderstorms likely after the late-morning and early-afternoon hours. The rain chance is 80%, and Friday night remains unsettled with another 80% chance before skies turn mostly cloudy.
Weekend Rain Eases, Heat Sticks Around
Saturday, August 8, brings mostly sunny skies early and a 70% chance of afternoon and evening storms, with a high near 92. Sunday, August 9, should be hotter at 93, but the rain chance drops to 40%, with storms mainly possible after 2 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday could be the hottest days of the stretch, each reaching 94 degrees with scattered afternoon storms and 30% rain chances. Overnight lows will stay in the mid-to-upper 70s through Tuesday night, so Tampa will not get much relief after sunset.
Heat And Storm Safety
No watches or warnings were posted for the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning. With heat indexes near 100 later this week, people heading outdoors should carry water, take regular shade or air-conditioning breaks and move indoors when thunder is audible.
