TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) –We’re enjoying a quieter stretch of weather heading into Friday, but a major pattern change is right around the corner. A powerful cold front will move through late Friday night into Saturday, setting the stage for some of the coldest and most hazardous weather we’ve seen this season.
Tonight will be chilly again, though not quite as cold as last night. Friday looks manageable, with highs reaching the upper 60s to low 70s. Clouds will increase late in the day, and a few scattered showers are possible overnight as the front pushes through. Rain totals will be light, but the real story arrives behind the front.
Saturday turns windy and much colder, as frigid air pours in on Saturday, temperatures may actually fall through the afternoon rather than rise. Strong northwest winds will quickly ramp up, blowing 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts, especially near the coast. It will feel sharply colder by late day, and wind chills will drop fast once the sun sets.
Hypothermia risks increase in Tennessee, Mississippi with next wave of frigid temps
Because of the intensity of this cold air, a Freeze Watch and Extreme Cold Watch are now in effect from Saturday night through Sunday morning for much of the area. This could escalate to Freeze Warnings as we get closer…