Tampa starts Friday clear and already sticky, with temperatures near 76 degrees early and a high near 88 later in the day. The heat index could reach 99 before isolated showers and thunderstorms begin around 1 p.m. and become more widespread through the afternoon.
Rain chances rise to about 40% Friday, with showers and thunderstorms possible. The National Weather Service Tampa Bay office says storms may bring gusty winds and temporarily lower visibility, so the late-day commute and outdoor plans could get messy in spots.
Saturday Brings Storms And A Noticeable Cooldown
Saturday looks much cooler, with a high near 80 and a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms. North-to-northeast winds greater than 15 mph are expected to begin Saturday afternoon, with gusts up to 20 mph, while clouds hang over much of the day.
The updated outlook is a substantive change from the earlier forecast that focused on a warmer, stormier weekend setup, as noted in an earlier Hoodline forecast. Saturday night should turn cooler, with temperatures dropping to around 64 degrees.
Sunny, Breezy Weather Takes Over Sunday
Sunday brings the biggest change of the week: sunny skies, a high near 77 and northeast winds of 14 to 18 mph. Gusts could reach 30 mph, making it feel more like a fall weekend than the humid, heat-index-heavy weather Tampa gets Friday.
Boaters should use extra caution as hazardous Gulf conditions develop this weekend. The weather service expects north to northeast winds around 20 to 30 knots and seas up to 13 feet offshore, with Small Craft Advisories beginning Saturday in parts of the Gulf waters and continuing into early next week.
Cooler, Drier Days Continue Next Week
The cooler pattern is expected to stick around through much of next week, with sunny highs near 79 to 81 and overnight lows in the low to mid-60s. Rain chances remain low for most of next week, offering Tampa a welcome break from the afternoon storm routine.
