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Wind, rain in the forecast for Tampa Bay on Friday

 
Published Jan. 22, 2016

The massive storm system projected to dump snow across a wide swath of the East Coast this weekend will have to make its way across Florida first.

And there's a chance it'll bring some severe weather to the Tampa Bay area, including strong winds, hail and even tornadoes.

"Most of what you get should just be rain and thunderstorms," said chief meteorologist Jim Van Fleet of 10Weather WTSP. "But isolated severe weather is possible."

The fast-moving storm system may cross Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and northwest Hillsborough counties in the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. window today.

Last week's severe weather killed two people in Manatee County but left Pinellas and Hillsborough largely unscathed. This storm's damage may be less intense, Van Fleet said. Still, the National Weather Service warned boaters to be cautious amid possible gale-force winds and said to expect some minor flooding.

Temperatures will range from about 60 to 70 degrees, but with the wind and rain, it'll feel chilly. After the storm passes, Saturday should be even colder, in the 50s.

"The winds are really going to be screaming," Van Fleet said.