SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Dry air in the upper levels will continue to suppress thunderstorm development on Wednesday. Storms are still likely to form, but their coverage will be scattered.
Some colder air in the upper levels and strong wind shear means a few of those storms could become severe, with the Storm Prediction Center giving our area a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) of severe weather on Wednesday. The primary threats with any severe thunderstorms will be strong, gusty winds and hail, along with the typical threat of dangerous lightning.
Expect storms to form in the eastern half of the state and move westward through the late afternoon and evening, giving us a 30% chance of rain on the Suncoast. Temperatures will begin in the low to mid-70s, then climb into the low 90s by mid-afternoon.
This week is Lightning Awareness Week, which serves as a good reminder for the proper protocol when you’re outside and a thunderstorm threatens. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a storm. This means that while there might be blue skies overhead, if there is a storm nearby, you could still be struck by lightning…