Tampa, Florida – A sharp cold front moving through the Tampa Bay area tonight is setting the stage for the coldest temperatures of the season, prompting a Freeze Watch for much of west central and southwest Florida and raising concerns for travel, boating, and outdoor safety by Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay, scattered showers will accompany the front overnight, followed by a surge of much colder air. By early Friday, temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-20s to low 30s across inland areas, with wind chills falling into the low to mid-20s. Coastal locations, including Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, will also experience unusually cold conditions.
Motorists traveling along I-4, I-75, US-19, and the Selmon Expressway should be alert for slick spots on bridges and overpasses early Friday, especially where brief showers leave moisture behind before temperatures fall below freezing. The cold arrives alongside increasing winds, which will make driving more difficult for high-profile vehicles during the overnight and early morning hours.
Marine conditions will deteriorate rapidly late tonight, with a Small Craft Advisory in effect for eastern Gulf waters. Inexperienced boaters are urged to remain in port due to hazardous winds and seas.
The Freeze Watch remains in effect through Friday morning, and additional cold weather advisories may be issued if temperatures trend lower. Residents are urged to protect people, pets, plants, and exposed pipes as this cold snap settles in.
