TAMPA, Fla. – Afternoon storms could bring heavy rain, dangerous lightning, and localized flooding across West Central and Southwest Florida on Monday as heat indices soar past 100 degrees.
According to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay, morning sunshine will give way to scattered to numerous thunderstorms developing through the afternoon and evening. The storms will move slowly, raising the chance of flooding in poor-drainage and low-lying areas.
Cities including Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota may see downpours capable of ponding on roadways, while inland spots such as Lakeland and Brooksville face both stronger storms and higher heat. Forecasters say coastal highs will hover near 90 degrees, but inland temperatures will climb into the mid-90s, with heat indices between 100 and 107…