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 Land O' Lakes 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 has county officials urging Land O’ Lakes residents to take precautions.
Just because the calendar says it’s springtime doesn’t mean Mother Nature got the message. Forecasters are predicting a blast of winter-like weather to hit Land O’ Lakes over the next few days and this has Pasco County officials concerned. The Office of Emergency Management, in fact, has announced the opening of cold weather shelters overnight Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25-27. 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 calls for a low around 40 in Land O’ Lakes with an early morning feels-like temperature down around 36 degrees on Tuesday. The high Tuesday is expected to only climb to about 61…
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Spring has officially arrived and that means it’s time for showers followed by sunshine here in Land O' Lakes.
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 Land O' Lakes 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 Land O' Lakes area.
Land O' Lakes 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 73 expected and a low in the low 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 81 on March 17. Overnight temperatures Sunday should only fall into the upper 50s. Enjoy that nice weather while it lasts though. The …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Storms are anticipated to move into the Land O' Lakes
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 Land O' Lakes 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 morning…
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 Land O' Lakes 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 Land O' Lakes 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…
Friday, February 15, 2013
The county is opening its cold weather shelters Feb. 16-17.
The cold front that has moved through the Tampa Bay area bringing rain along with it is now expected to give Land O' Lakes the chills. The National Weather Service is calling for temperatures to dip into the low to mid-30s, overnight Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16-17. With that in mind, Pasco County has announced it will open its cold weather shelters at 6 p.m. both nights. “These low temperatures and wind chills are dangerous to anyone who will be outside for a long period of time,” a county media release states. “Children, the elderly and pets are especially vulnerable to the cold and extra care should be taken to protect them.” The following shelters will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday: For a complete look at Land O' Lakes weather…
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Forecasters are calling for rain to clear out as the long Presidents Day weekend approaches.
Grab those umbrellas if you’re heading out in the Land O' Lakes area. The National Weather Service’s Ruskin office says the cold front that pushed through the area Wednesday, causing some heavy rains and gusty winds, is likely to create more storms on Thursday and possibly again on Friday. Meteorologist Robert Garcia says area residents can expect fairly gloomy skies on Thursday with rain chances up in the 80 percent range. Severe weather, however, isn’t anticipated but an occasional thunderstorm might make an appearance. Aside from light sprinkles to pockets of heavy rain and some gusty winds, “(it’s going to be) just a gloomy looking day,” Garcia says. Rain chances diminish on Friday, but sprinkles are still possible. Overnight Friday, …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Expect some near-freezing temperature overnight on Thursday and a few cooler days before things start to heat up again.
Grab those jackets and pull out an extra blanket from the linen closest – this morning’s cold temperatures were just a taste of what’s in store for the Land O' Lakes area over the next few days. According to the National Weather Service, residents should brace for a few more chilly days ahead before things start to warm up again going into the weekend. Low temperatures overnight Thursday, Jan. 31, are expected to dip near freezing and today’s high will only climb to the mid-60s. Friday’s weather is much the same with only a warming of a degree or two expected during the day and in the overnight hours. Things do start to heat up as the weekend progresses. Look for highs in the lower 70s and lows in the mid-40s through Monday. Rain isn’t in …
Friday, January 11, 2013
Temperatures in Land O' Lakes and across Tampa Bay continue to hang in the mid-80s through the weekend after NOAA announced that 2012 was the warmest in more than 100 years.
According to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, 2012 was the warmest year on record since 1895 in the lower 48 states. On average, the temperature reached 55.3 degrees in 2012, which topped the previous record set in 1998 by a whole degree, according to The Weather Channel. Surely you've noticed the abnormally busy pools and beaches here in Tampa Bay despite the fact that it's January. Experts from The Weather Channel say the unusually warm start to winter is due in part to high pressure spanning from Florida to the Bahamas. The high pressure is pushing the polar jet stream into eastern Canada, which results in the cold air being "bottled up in the West and Plains states through the weekend," The Weather Channel reports. This week, …
