TAMPA, Fla. – Residents across the Tampa Bay area should keep their winter coats handy this week as the region prepares for a sharp drop in temperatures, bringing wind chills into the 20s and near-freezing conditions overnight.
The cool-down begins immediately. While Thursday starts partly sunny with a lingering chance of morning showers, temperatures are expected to slide throughout the day. By 5 p.m., the thermometer will read closer to 52 degrees, driven by gusty northwest winds reaching up to 28 mph.
The real chill arrives after dark. Skies will clear tonight, allowing temperatures to plummet to a low of around 29 degrees. For many, Friday morning will feel even colder; forecasters warn that wind chill values could dip as low as 27 degrees early in the day. Despite bright sunshine on Friday, the high will struggle to reach 58.
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The weekend brings a brief, erratic shift. Saturday offers a temporary reprieve, with mostly sunny skies and highs jumping near 70 degrees. However, the warmth won’t stick. A 20 percent chance of rain moves in after 1 a.m. Sunday, followed by another round of showers in the morning.
By Sunday afternoon, gusty winds return, capping highs at 60 degrees and setting the stage for another cold snap. Sunday night lows are forecast to drop back to around 31 degrees.
For those planning to attend parades or events for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the forecast looks bright but crisp. Monday is expected to be sunny with a high near 56 degrees and a manageable north wind.
The rollercoaster levels out early next week, with sunny skies and a gradual warming trend bringing highs back into the upper 60s by Wednesday.
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