TAMPA, Fla. – Residents across the Tampa Bay area should keep both their rain gear and winter coats handy over the next 24 hours as a swift weather system brings a round of storms followed by a sharp drop in temperatures.
According to the National Weather Service, the region will see a shift starting late this afternoon. While today remains relatively mild with highs near 68 degrees, cloud cover is thickening. By 4 p.m., the chance of showers begins to creep in, setting the stage for a wet overnight period.
The bulk of the active weather is expected tonight. Forecasters predict an 80 percent chance of precipitation, with showers and possible thunderstorms rolling through before 4 a.m. Residents might hear some rumbles of thunder overnight, and rainfall totals generally between a tenth and a quarter of an inch are likely, though heavier downpours could occur in isolated storms…