TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay area is heading into a weekend of high temperatures, real-feel heat indexes peaking in the triple digits, and brief windows of afternoon storms, according to the latest regional weather data.
This afternoon, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop, primarily hitting between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Even with a 30 percent chance of rain, the area will stay mostly sunny with a high temperature near 91 degrees.
Humidity will make it feel much hotter, driving heat index values up to 99 degrees. Light west-northwest winds will move at 3 to 7 mph. Moving into tonight, isolated showers and storms should taper off before 8 p.m., leaving partly cloudy skies and a low temperature around 75 degrees as winds go calm.
The heat intensifies slightly on Saturday. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high near 92 degrees, but the heat index is projected to reach as high as 101 degrees. Winds will start calm before shifting to the west at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
The chance of precipitation drops to 20 percent, with isolated showers and thunderstorms expected during a tight window between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday night brings a minor 10 percent chance of isolated storms between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., followed by partly cloudy conditions and a low around 76 degrees.
Sunday offers a nearly identical setup, keeping the steady summer heat alive. The day will be sunny with a high near 92 degrees. Calm morning winds will pick up out of the west at 5 to 9 mph after midday. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible after 2 p.m., carrying a 20 percent chance of rain.
Sunday night concludes the weekend with isolated storms clearing out before 8 p.m., leading to mostly clear skies and a low temperature hovering around 77 degrees.
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