Will 2023 De Soto parade roll with strong storms on the way? Here’s the latest update

Update 7:45 p.m.: The parade has been canceled because of lightning and the storm front that has not yet passed. The floats will still drive the route with no throws or music, officials said.

Update 4 p.m. Saturday: A tornado watch has been issued until 10 p.m. The parade is still set to roll but the start time is delayed 45 minutes to 7:45 p.m. as storms with lightning are forecast to move through the area.

A line of strong thunderstorms could put a damper on another De Soto parade this weekend, which would mean a rain-out for a second year in a row.

But Hernando De Soto Historical Society Parade Committee officials said Friday they do expect the 83rd annual parade to roll.

National Weather Service meteorologist Christianne Pearce told the Bradenton Herald that a line of strong, possibly severe, thunderstorms will move through the area at some point Saturday afternoon or evening.

As of Friday evening, it was expected to start raining at 4 p.m. with light to moderate rains around the parade start time of 7 p.m. and getting lighter after that.

“The parade is scheduled to roll at 7 p.m. and the weather looks to be dry for the rest of the evening,” parade chairmen Tom Murphy and Mike Ivko said in an email.

“We will have shelter available for people at staging late in the afternoon. We strongly encourage participants to drop their floats and related parade entries to Manatee High School before 1 p.m. to avoid the afternoon showers.”

However, the storm system could speed up or slow down, Pearce said.

There also is a possibility of severe weather, with the region under a slight risk, the second of five threat levels. That means strong winds and hail are possible.

The parade was canceled in 2022 with no reschedule date, and that would be the case again this year, parade officials said.

“Unfortunately, because the permitting process takes months and requires approval from the Florida Department of Transportation, we cannot reschedule the parade.”

Updates will be posted on the Hernando De Soto Historical Society’s Facebook page.

If the parade rolls, it will also be livestreamed for the first time on the Facebook page, the group’s YouTube page and https://mor-tv.com.

Forecast

Saturday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Heat index values as high as 98. Breezy, with a south wind 7-17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Low around 71. Windy, with a south wind 15-25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 81. Windy, with a west wind 24-28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Breezy, with a west wind 11-17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. West northwest wind 9-13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. West wind 6-9 mph.