What to expect during Tampa Bay's cold snap
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Tampa Bay's coldest weather so far this winter has arrived.
Fun (or not so fun) fact: It's the chilliest cold streak we've experienced since 2022, per the Tampa Bay Times.
Here's what to expect:
🥶 Overnight temperatures will hover in the 40s on the coast and upper 30s inland this week before starting to warm up on Friday, per the National Weather Service. Highs will hover in the upper 50s and low 60s.
- Forecasters don't expect freezing temperatures in our area, although inland Pasco County is under a frost warning until 9am Wednesday with temperatures as low as 33°.
🌊 In the mood for a polar bear plunge? Be careful. The NWS warned of a high risk of rip currents through Wednesday morning along coastal Pinellas and Hillsborough counties south to Lee County.
✈️ Travelers beware. Winter storms in other parts of the country have delayed or canceled flights to and from Tampa International Airport. Of 451 flights to and from TPA on Tuesday, 13 were canceled and 69 were delayed.
- That's a vast improvement from Monday, when nearly half of flights were canceled, per the Tampa Bay Times.
- Still, TPA advises travelers to check with their airline for the most updated information.
🥔 With water temperatures in the mid-60s, manatees will be searching for warm water, per the Times. If you see one in distress, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's hotline at 1-888-404-3922, then dial 7.
🛏️ Shelters have opened across the region for those who need refuge from the cold. Find a county-by-county list compiled by Spectrum Bay News 9 here.