The chilliest morning amid a string of strong cold fronts this year is expected to coincide with the annual Gasparilla Parade in Tampa on Saturday, though the afternoon should warm up nicely.
And by the end of the weekend, Tampa will bask in the highest temperatures it has seen in nearly two weeks.
Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, when the first pirate ship docks at the south end of Hillsborough Bay. The parade will kick off at 2 p.m.
By then, temperatures will have warmed considerably after a very cold morning, said Christianne Pearce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office.
Parade-goers should expect an afternoon high in the low 60s after temperatures have bottomed out in the low to mid-30s that morning.
“It should be a pretty pleasant day once you get out of those very cold morning temperatures,” Pearce said.
Tampa Bay’s long spell of frigid weather has been prolonged thanks to Arctic air swept south on the tail of Winter Storm Enzo, which brought record snow to parts of the Panhandle earlier this week.
With that front also comes a reprieve from recent rainy spells. Saturday’s parade will sail down Bayshore Boulevard under sunny, clear skies, Pearce said.
But icy winds and sea breeze earlier that morning could make air temperatures feel like they are below freezing, she added. But proximity to the shores of Tampa Bay should regulate that cool air.
“The water also helps to kind of keep the lowest temperatures at bay,” Pearce said. “Right on the water will actually be a couple of degrees warmer than if you go a little bit further inland.”
More than 300,000 people — including over 50 krewes and a 120-unit parade — will join in the procession.
For those assembling their pirate costumes, the chilly weather may require bundling up early then shedding coats for beads as the parade progresses.
“I would definitely just recommend a jacket for the morning,” Pearce said. “Dress in layers like you normally would, and you should have a pretty decent day.”
The high temperature should reach into the high 60s on Sunday and will finally climb into the 70s early next week.
Are you ready for the coldest morning of the season? Bundle up and prepare for freezing temperatures as winter makes its presence known. But don’t worry, just when you think you can’t take the cold anymore, the weather forecast is predicting a warm-up on the way. So hang in there, stay cozy, and get ready to welcome back some much-needed warmth. Winter may have its moments, but remember, spring is just around the corner. Stay tuned for updates as we say goodbye to the chill and hello to the sun! #WinterWeather #HelloSpring #WarmUpComing
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- Cold weather forecast
- Winter chill
- Seasonal temperature drop
- Freezing morning
- Temperature rise
- Weather update
- Seasonal weather change
- Cold snap
- Warm up ahead
- Weather prediction
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