Monday, April 22, 2013
While the week is expected to have a wet start, forecasters say a dry stretch is on the way.
Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the kickoff of the workweek, but forecasters say Westchase area residents shouldn’t expect that to last long. Monday’s rains are expected to give way to a week of rising temperatures and dry conditions. “The rest of the week stays dry until next Sunday (when there’s) a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon,” said Richard Rude, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office. Highs throughout the week are expected to climb to into the mid- to upper-80s range. Lows will only fall to the lower 60s at the lowest. While a nice week is on the horizon, residents should prepare for some potentially hazardous conditions on Monday, April 22. Rude said Monday would deliver …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The potential for lightning, damaging winds and hail is possible, but forecasters say the bad weather will clear out by the weekend.
The National Weather Service is urging Westchase area residents to keep an eye on the sky April 4-5, but says the potential for severe weather will fade as we head into the weekend. The forecast for Thursday, April 4 calls for “more off-and-on showers and thunderstorms through tonight,” said Paul Close, a weather service meteorologist. “There’s a 70 to 80 percent chance of rain.” Rain alone, however, isn’t all Tampa Bay residents are likely to see. “Some of those storms later today or tonight (April 4) could be severe with damaging winds, hail and maybe an isolated tornado or two,” Close said. It’s possible the wet weather will continue into Friday, Close said, but things should clear up by the afternoon. “The rest of the weekend is …
Monday, March 25, 2013
The arrival of a cold front will put a chill in the air most of this week.
Just because the calendar says it’s springtime doesn’t mean Mother Nature got the memo. Forecasters are predicting a blast of winter-like weather to hit the Westchase area over the next few days. The National Weather Service says the cold front won’t bring temperatures down to freezing, but with the wind chill factor added in it will feel close. The forecast for Monday night (March 25) calls for a low in the low 40s for Westchase with an early morning feels-like temperature down around 38 degrees on Tuesday. The high Tuesday is expected to only climb to about 60 degrees. Patchy frost is possible overnight Tuesday with a low around 35anticipated going into Wednesday moring. A warming trend is expected to arrive Thursday with a high of 71 …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Spring has officially arrived and that means it’s time for showers followed by sunshine here in Westchase.
A new season has arrived and it looks like Mother Nature is going to prove it by delivering showers, followed by sunny skies and then perhaps more rain in the Westchase area. The National Weather Service says we should see a little bit of both as this first partial week of spring wears on. March 20 marks the official first day of spring, also known as the spring equinox, and it should bring some showers. The weather service says there’s an 80 percent chance of rain Wednesday with some showers possible overnight. Things should clear out heading into Thursday, March 21, with sunshine and a high near 70 anticipated. Friday should deliver much of the same with a high climbing to the upper 70s. Rain chances squeak back in Friday night and …
Friday, March 15, 2013
The National Weather Service predicts a nice spring weekend in the Westchase area.
Westchase residents craving a nice weekend after the bumpy start to this week might have the luck of the Irish on their side. The National Weather Service is forecasting a mild weekend with lots of sun as St. Patrick’s Day 2013 arrives. While Friday’s weather will be a little chillier than is normal this time of year with a high of 70 expected and a low in the upper 40s, Saturday, March 16 ushers in the start of a predicted warming trend and another day of sunny skies. Expect things to get a bit warmer just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. The forecast is calling for a mostly sunny day with a high near 80 March 17. Overnight temperatures Sunday should only fall into the low 60s. Enjoy that nice weather while it lasts though. The weather …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Storms are anticipated to move into the Westchase area tonight and stick around through Tuesday, March 12 – the 20th anniversary of a historic weather event that wreaked havoc throughout the Tampa Bay area.
While March 12, 1993, went down in the history books as being the day the “Storm of the Century” hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, this year’s weather should be a little milder. Even so, forecasters are saying Westchase area residents should pull out those umbrellas and prepare for a potentially wet night tonight, March 11, and an even wetter day March 12. The forecast for this evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Richard Rude, calls for a slight chance of rain. Those chances will “increase overnight after midnight,” Rude said. We’re looking at “some breezy conditions with gusts around 25 mph.” Tuesday, March 12, is anticipated to be a rather cloudy day with “showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The National Weather Service is asking residents to be mindful of conditions as they go about their day, Feb. 26.
A tornado watch is in effect in the Westchase area through 3 p.m. today, Feb. 26. According to the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office, that means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Meteorologist Rick Davis says the threat of severe weather is possible later this morning and into this afternoon as “kind of a squall line will move through the area. The potential is there for isolated tornadoes and damaging wind gusts.” Thunderstorms are also possible. Davis urges Westchase residents to keep an eye on the weather as they go through their day. If a tornado warning is issued for the area it means a tornado has been spotted and residents should “seek safety until the warning passes.” While today’s weather is less …
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The severe thunderstorms forecast for today may not be as bad as anticipated, but Westchase residents should expect to get wet.
As a line of storms that extends from Jacksonville to the Gulf of Mexico begins to move into our area, forecasters at the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office say there’s a silver lining in today’s forecast. “The organization is somewhat underwhelming,” said meteorologist Dan Noah. “The severe threat we were anticipating is somewhat diminished.” This means that many parts of the Tampa Bay area may not experience the severe weather that was initially forecast. Even so, Noah warns, the potential for thunderstorms and strong rain does remain. The storms should hit the Bay area later this morning or by early this afternoon. Once they clear out, expect slightly cooler temperatures Thursday. The high that day is expected to reach around 66 …
Friday, December 21, 2012
A cold front that moves into the area overnight tonight is expected to deliver colder temperatures tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the first official day of winter and forecasters at the National Weather Service in Ruskin say temperatures should cooperate in the Westchase area. A cold front that is anticipated to move into our area tonight will bring showers with it, said Tyler Fleming, a meteorologist with the weather service. Tonight’s storms might not pass quietly. “We’re expecting some gusty winds and maybe some thunder with that,” Fleming said. As a result, a small craft advisory goes into effect for the Bay area this afternoon and tonight. Once those showers clear out, Friday should shape up to be much cooler than today with its anticipated high of about 80 degrees. Friday’s high is expected to be in the low to mid-60s. Overnight Friday is when …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Tuesday’s weather is looking wet, but things should clear up by Wednesday.
Westchase voters are going to want to bring more than their photo IDs to the polls Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office, an umbrella might also be in order. “It looks like we may get a little bit more rain and even a few (more) thunderstorms than we originally thought,” said meteorologist Tom Dougherty. “Fortunately, it shouldn’t be windy or cold.” Dougherty said there’s a 20 percent chance of rain tonight (Monday) in the Westchase area. Chances rise to between 60 and 70 percent tomorrow as voters head to the polls to make their decisions for local, state and national offices, including president. While Tuesday looks like it’s going to be wet, Dougherty says it will start to clear out on Wednesday and into the…
