Strong thunderstorms roll into Tampa Bay Tuesday afternoon
Weather forecasters are predicting strong thunderstorms will rumble across parts of Tampa Bay Tuesday afternoon, including Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties.
The National Weather Service released a Special Weather Statement at 3 p.m. for portions of Citrus, Sumter, Pasco, Hernando, northern Pinellas, Hillsborough and northwestern Polk Counties through 3:30 p.m.
Doppler radar was tracking thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles northeast of Inverness to near Pebble Creak to near Clearwater, the weather statement said.
The storms were moving east at about 45 mph and wind gusts were reaching 50 mph. Forecasters said gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and knock around objects.
Tyler Fleming, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay Office, said the area can expect these storms to last through the afternoon and into the evening. Storms are likely to roll in again Wednesday morning, Fleming said.
The storms are part of a trough of low pressure over the Florida peninsula and eastern Gulf of Mexico that’s stuck in place, Fleming said. This is causing a lot of moisture and thunderstorms, he said.
Tuesday morning parts of the Nature Coast had six to seven inches of rain. However, Fleming does not anticipate that much rain in the Tampa Bay area in the afternoon and evening. Instead the area is likely to see about a half an inch or less of rain.
There is also a rip current statement in place across Tampa Bay. Forecasters are warning of dangerous rip currents through Wednesday evening.
The rest of the week is looking to be quite wet. Rain chances remain elevated through Saturday with the chance of showers and thunderstorms each day in the area.
“There’s a lot more moisture with a little bit more energy,” Fleming said. “So a little bit more active than a normal summer pattern.”
Impacted locations
Tampa, Spring Hill, Clearwater, Lakeland, Largo, Pinellas Park, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Inverness, Wildwood, Dade City, Bushnell, Beverly Hills, Homosassa Springs, Lutz, Brandon, St. Petersburg and St. Leo.
