/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KRQWUW53V5EWZHMB2I377MJCU4.png "As of an 8 a.m. update Wednesday, the National Weather Service expects an area of thunderstorms to bring heavy rainfall to the Tampa Bay-area this week.")
Hurricane season doesn’t officially begin until Thursday, but forecasters are already keeping an eye on a patch of rough weather moving toward Florida’s west coast that has a small chance of developing into a tropical system, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday morning.
Whether that happens or not, Tampa Bay is likely to feel the effects of the system – largely rain and some gusty winds – beginning on Wednesday afternoon.
Environmental conditions are only “marginally favorable” for the area of disorganized storms and thunderstorms over the eastern Gulf of Mexico to develop into a tropical system. The National Hurricane Center gives the area a 10% chance of formation over the next 48 hours and a 20% chance of formation over the next week.
Forecasters expect the system to be a heavy rainmaker and produce “gusty winds” for Florida, according to the update.
Meteorologists at the Tampa Bay-area National Weather Service office say parts of the region could see 1 to 4 inches of rain. The National Weather Service expects chances of rain from the system to begin Wednesday with the highest chances here on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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Tampa Bay Times hurricane coverage 2023
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