TAMPA, Fla. – Residents across the Tampa Bay area might want to keep both their flip-flops and their heavy coats handy over the next few days, as the region prepares for a dramatic shift in weather patterns.
For the remainder of the workweek and into the start of the weekend, the area will feel decidedly un-winterlike. High temperatures are set to hover in the low 80s—well above average for early January—offering plenty of sunshine once morning visibility issues clear up.
Drivers should exercise caution during the morning commute through Saturday. The forecast calls for dense fog developing in the early hours, particularly before 10 a.m., before burning off to reveal mostly sunny skies.
READ: Tampa Traffic Alert: Water Main Break Forces Lane Closures On East Waters
Winds will remain calm or light, shifting gently from the east and southeast, keeping the humidity and warmth locked in place. Overnight lows will stay mild, lingering in the low 60s.
However, the pattern is set to break by the second half of the weekend.
Changes begin Sunday morning with areas of fog and a slight 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m. While Sunday’s high will still reach a pleasant 75 degrees, a cold front will sweep through later in the day, shifting winds to the northwest and ushering in significantly cooler air.
The drop will be sharp. By Sunday night, temperatures are expected to plummet to a low of around 41 degrees—a roughly 20-degree difference from the nights prior.
READ: ‘No Choice’ Left: Star Lawyer Abruptly Dumps Nick Reiner Defense Over ‘Impossible’ Situation
Monday will see the full effect of this cold snap, with mostly sunny skies but a high struggling to reach 63 degrees. A steady northeast wind around 10 mph will likely add a bite to the air. The chill persists into Monday night with lows dipping into the mid-40s.
A slow warm-up begins Tuesday with highs creeping back near 69, but clouds will return by mid-week. Looking ahead to next Wednesday, residents should prepare for wetter conditions, with a 40 percent chance of showers and highs in the mid-60s.
Five-Day Snapshot:
- Friday & Saturday: Highs in the low 80s, morning fog, sunny afternoons.
- Sunday: Transition day. High of 75, slight rain chance, turning much colder at night.
- Monday: Cold and breezy. High 63, Low 44.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, High 69.
- Wednesday: Clouds return with a chance of rain.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
