Tampa Weather Forecast: Scattered Storms Sunday Evening, Hot Afternoon

Sunday Afternoon and Evening Weather

• ☁️ Expect clouds to persist throughout the day, contributing to a hot afternoon with high humidity.
• ⚡ The best chance for thunderstorms in the Tampa area will be during the evening hours, particularly from 4 PM to 7 PM.
• ⛈️ Scattered storms are anticipated across inland areas like Polk and parts of Bartow, with potential for stronger storms just before sunset.
• 🌃 Storms may linger into the late night hours, with possible thunder, lightning, and heavy rain.

Recent Rainfall and Drought Improvement

• 🌧️ Parts of the area, especially along I-75 from Lakeland to Tampa, received 4 to 5 inches of rain recently.
• 💧 Heavier rainfall was also noted in inland Manatee and Sarasota counties, though some coastal areas missed out.
• 🏜️ Significant improvement in drought conditions has been observed across Southwest Florida due to a recent shift in wind patterns.

Air Quality and Tropical Outlook

• 💨 Air quality is generally good, with a few spots showing moderate levels.
• 🌍 Saharan dust is expected to be tracked over the next few days, with plumes moving into the Caribbean and Gulf.
• ☀️ The tropics are quiet and expected to remain so for the next seven days, with no development anticipated.

Temperature Forecast

• 🌡️ Afternoon highs today will reach the upper 80s to low 90s across the region.
• ☀️ Inland areas will see highs in the mid-90s, with Tampa reaching 91°F and Plant City 93°F.
• 🌃 Overnight lows will be in the upper 70s near the coast and mid-70s inland.
• 🔥 Afternoon highs may increase slightly over the next couple of days as drier conditions build.