TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay residents planning outdoor activities for Memorial Day weekend will need to keep an eye on the sky, as the National Weather Service forecasts a pattern of high heat and daily afternoon thunderstorms.
The holiday weekend starts today with mostly sunny skies turning partly sunny later in the day. Temperatures are expected to climb to a high near 93 degrees, with heat index values pushing the heat to a feel-like temperature of 98 degrees. Light winds will shift to the southeast at around 6 mph in the morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are projected to develop after 2 p.m., carrying a 40% chance of rain.
The threat of rain increases into tonight, with showers and thunderstorms likely before 1 a.m. Forecasters place the chance of precipitation at 60%, with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. The overnight low will drop to around 74 degrees under partly cloudy skies.
On Sunday, mostly sunny conditions will dominate the morning and early afternoon before rain chances ramp up later in the day. High temperatures will reach near 92 degrees with southeast winds moving between 5 and 7 mph. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected, with heavier rain and possible thunderstorms becoming likely after 5 p.m. The overall rain chance stands at 60%, bringing between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of new rainfall, though higher amounts could fall during localized thunderstorms.
READ: Tiny Trace Of Red Tide Organism Found In Single Florida Panhandle Sample
Sunday night will see a continuation of wet weather, with a 60% chance of rain. Showers and possible thunderstorms remain likely before 8 p.m., followed by scattered activity until 2 a.m. Skies will stay mostly cloudy with a low of around 74 degrees.
For Memorial Day on Monday, the region repeats a familiar summer pattern. The day will start mostly sunny with a high near 92 degrees and an east-southeast wind between 7 and 9 mph. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast to arrive after 2 p.m., carrying a 40% chance of precipitation. Monday night will remain mostly cloudy with a low around 74 degrees and a 40% chance of scattered storms before 2 a.m.
The wet and humid weather trend extends into the post-holiday week. Tuesday maintains a high near 93 degrees with a 30% chance of afternoon storms, rising to a 50% chance overnight. By midweek, rain chances increase significantly.
Wednesday brings a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, primarily after 2 p.m., with a high near 90 degrees. Thursday and Friday will see temperatures cool slightly into the high 80s as rain chances climb to 70% during the day and 60% at night, with showers and thunderstorms likely across both days.
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
