TAMPA, Fla. – Residents in the Tampa Bay area, specifically across the Nature Coast and inland counties, need to prepare for a significant drop in temperature. While Monday might start off feeling relatively mild with highs near 69 degrees around noon, the weather is going to change quickly.
As the day goes on, temperatures will fall to around 57 degrees, and the wind will pick up. Expect northwest winds between 11 and 14 mph, with some gusts hitting 25 mph.
The real chill arrives tonight. A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight tonight until 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. Skies will be mostly clear, allowing temperatures to plummet to around 32 degrees, with some areas seeing lows dip to 26 degrees.
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This cold front is affecting a wide area, including Sumter, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties. Cities like The Villages, Brooksville, Crystal River, and Zephyrhills are all in the path of this cold snap.
Tuesday won’t offer much relief. Even though it will be sunny, the high will only reach near 55 degrees. If you are stepping out early in the morning, be ready for wind chill values that could make it feel like it is 24 degrees outside. The wind will calm down slightly but will still blow from the north.
The cold sticks around for another night.
A Freeze Watch has already been issued from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Temperatures Tuesday night will drop to around 30 degrees. By Wednesday, things stay sunny but cool, with a high near 58 degrees. Another freezing night is expected Wednesday with lows near 31.
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We will finally see a slow warm-up later in the week. Thursday brings sunny skies and a high near 62, and Friday should hit 64 degrees. However, rain returns to the forecast by Friday night with a 20 percent chance of showers, increasing to 30 percent on Saturday.
With these freezing conditions, it is important to take safety steps now. Frost and hard freezes can kill crops and sensitive vegetation, so cover your plants or bring them inside.
You should also protect outdoor plumbing to prevent bursts. Wrapping pipes or letting faucets drip slowly can help prevent water from freezing inside them. Make sure pets are warm and have shelter from the cold wind.
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