Climate of the Tampa Bay area: Difference between revisions
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{{Main|Tampa, Florida|St. Petersburg, Florida|Tampa Bay |
{{Main|Tampa, Florida|St. Petersburg, Florida|Tampa Bay area}} |
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[[File:TampaColor 20151103.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Landsat 8 image of Tampa Bay Region]] |
[[File:TampaColor 20151103.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Landsat 8 image of Tampa Bay Region]] |
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The [[Tampa Bay area]] has a [[humid subtropical climate]] closely bordering a |
The [[Tampa Bay area]] has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa''), closely bordering a tropical climate near the waterfront areas. There are two basic seasons in the Tampa Bay area, a hot and wet season from May through October, and a mild and dry season from November through April. |
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Nearly two-thirds of the annual [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] falls in the months of June through September. The area is listed by the [[United States Department of Agriculture |
Nearly two-thirds of the annual [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] falls in the months of June through September. The area is listed by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] (USDA) as being in [[Hardiness zone#United States hardiness zones (USDA scale)|hardiness zone 10a]] as well as [[Hardiness zone#United States hardiness zones (USDA scale)|hardiness zone 10b]] along the immediate coast and in peninsular Pinellas;<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2021-05-08 |title=Interactive Map - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx |website=USDA Agricultural Research Service |publisher=USDA |archive-date=2019-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704214427/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> which is about the northern limit of where [[coconut palm]]s and [[royal palm]]s can be grown. Highs usually range between {{convert|65|and(-)|95|F|C}} year round. [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa's]] official high has never reached {{convert|100|F|C}} – the city's all-time record temperature is {{convert|99|F|C}}. [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg's]] all-time record high is exactly {{convert|100|°F|°C}}.<ref>[http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USFL0481_f.html Tampa Weather Forecasts on Yahoo! Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216084715/http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USFL0481_f.html |date=December 16, 2008 }}. Weather.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> |
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[[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]] lies on a [[peninsula]] between [[Tampa Bay]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and much of the city of Tampa lies on a smaller peninsula jutting out into Tampa Bay. This proximity to large bodies of water both moderates temperatures and introduces large amounts of [[humidity]] into the atmosphere. In general, the local communities farthest from the coast have larger temperature ranges, both during a single day and throughout the [[seasons]] of the year.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> |
[[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]] lies on a [[peninsula]] between [[Tampa Bay]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and much of the city of Tampa lies on a smaller peninsula jutting out into Tampa Bay. This proximity to large bodies of water both moderates temperatures and introduces large amounts of [[humidity]] into the atmosphere. In general, the local communities farthest from the coast have larger temperature ranges, both during a single day and throughout the [[seasons]] of the year.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> |
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== Seasonal weather == |
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{{climate chart |
{{climate chart |
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| Tampa |
| Tampa |
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| 52. |
| 52.8 | 71.3 | 2.65 |
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| |
| 55.5 | 74.0 | 2.62 |
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| |
| 59.3 | 77.8 | 2.52 |
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| |
| 64.8 | 83.0 | 2.55 |
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| |
| 70.3 | 88.3 | 2.60 |
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| |
| 75.4 | 90.5 | 7.37 |
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| |
| 76.6 | 91.0 | 7.75 |
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| ⚫ | |||
| 75. |
| 75.3 | 90.2 | 6.09 |
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| |
| 69.2 | 85.6 | 2.34 |
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| |
| 60.7 | 78.9 | 1.40 |
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| |
| 55.9 | 73.9 | 2.56 |
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| ⚫ | |||
| units = imperial |
| units = imperial |
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| float = right |
| float = right |
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| clear = none |
| clear = none |
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| source = NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals<ref>{{cite web |title=Tampa 1991-2020 Monthly Climate Normals |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=tbw |website=www.weather.gov |publisher=NOAA |language=EN-US}}</ref>}} |
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| source = NOAA{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} }} |
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== |
=== Wet season === |
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=== Wet Season === |
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[[File:Tampa Convention Center.JPG|thumb|[[Cumulus cloud]]s building over the [[Tampa Convention Center]] on a summer afternoon]] |
[[File:Tampa Convention Center.JPG|thumb|[[Cumulus cloud]]s building over the [[Tampa Convention Center]] on a summer afternoon]] |
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[[File:ISS013-E-78315.jpg|thumb|Tampa Bay is midway down the peninsula on the right. Small cumulus clouds cover the peninsula at about {{nowrap|1 PM}} on September 6, 2006. A tropical disturbance is on the far left.]] |
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The |
The warm and rainy season typically begins in late May and runs through October.<ref name=summerstaple/> Average high temperatures are in the low 90s °F (around 32 °C) with lows in the mid-70s °F (around 24 °C) during this period, and the combination of warm temperatures and high [[humidity]] brings an almost daily chance of rain and [[thunderstorm]]s, especially in the afternoon. Day-to-day weather is remarkably consistent, with summertime average highs and lows within five to ten degrees of the record high and low for any given date.<ref name="NWS">{{Cite web |url=http://w2.weather.gov/climate/index.php?wfo=tbw |title=National Weather Service - Tampa climate data |website=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |access-date=2017-07-01}}</ref> |
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In the typical summertime weather pattern, the combination of daytime heating and the interaction of the Gulf and [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] [[sea breeze]]s creates [[thermal]]-fueled [[cumulus]] clouds over the Florida peninsula. These can produce rain showers or grow into towering [[cumulonimbus|thunderheads]], either of which tend to drift westward on upper-level winds produced by the [[Bermuda high]], a semi-permanent weather feature over the [[Atlantic Ocean]] that strengthens during the summer months.<ref name="summerstaple">{{cite news |last1=Mulligan |first1=Michaela |title=Tampa Bay's afternoon storms are a summer staple. Why is this year different? |url=https://www.tampabay.com/weather/2023/08/21/tampa-bays-afternoon-storms-are-summer-staple-why-is-this-year-different/ |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=August 21, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |
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The typical summer weather pattern is for heat-produced [[thermals]], powered by either the Gulf or [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] [[sea breeze]] (and occasionally both simultaneously), to build puffy white [[cumulus cloud]]s into threatening [[cumulonimbus|thunderheads]] over the interior of the Florida peninsula. Usually, the resulting storms drift slowly westward to the bay area, though they may rain themselves out before reaching Tampa if the easterly winds are light or the [[sea breeze]] from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] is too strong. Stronger storm cells often survive to move out over the Gulf of Mexico, where they can be seen from the beaches as spectacular nighttime lightning shows.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> Occasionally, storms form offshore overnight along the land-breeze front which is the dermal counterpart of the daytime sea-breeze front. If the prevailing winds are from the west or southwest, these storms can push ashore into the Tampa Bay area in the morning and move inland, reversing the more common pattern. |
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These storms can form anywhere across [[Central Florida]] from the interior near [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] to along the west coast, depending on the wind and local weather conditions. Wherever they develop, Tampa's most common summer weather pattern results in afternoon thundershowers that usually rain themselves out by sunset, though on occasion, a storm cell will persist and drift west to the Gulf of Mexico to produce nighttime lightning displays visible from local beaches.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> |
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A less common summer weather pattern is for prevailing westerly winds to cause overnight thundershowers to form offshore along a [[land breeze]] front. These storms bring morning rain to the Tampa area before moving inland later in the day, reversing the more typical timing. While afternoon storms are usually followed by a clear and cooler evening, morning rain often results in higher than usual humidity levels and the possibility of more storms developing in the afternoon.<ref name=summerstaple/> |
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| ⚫ | Summer |
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| ⚫ | Summer storms typically bring brief periods of heavy [[rain]] and gusty winds with frequent cloud-to-ground [[lightning]]. They can grow [[severe thunderstorm|severe]], bringing strong straight-line winds, small [[hail]], and torrential rain, and an occasional [[tornado]]. (While Florida sees the highest number of tornadoes per square mile of any state, the majority are small, weak, and short-lived compared to [[Tornado Alley|those seen in mid-western states]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/toptens/topten1.htm |title=Top Ten Tornado Lists |publisher=Tornadoproject.com |access-date=2010-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204033709/http://www.tornadoproject.com/toptens/topten1.htm |archive-date=2012-02-04 }}</ref>) [[Waterspout]]s sometimes form when outflows from adjacent storm cells interact and begin to rotate over water, creating a [[funnel cloud]] over Tampa Bay or off the gulf beaches. These features usually stay offshore but occasionally reach land as a short-lived weak tornado.<ref>{{cite news |title=Waterspout forms in St. Pete Beach |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/weather/severe-weather/florida-waterspout-st-pete-beach/67-e0cc0abb-ab67-4683-81d0-6bb0f4255023 |work=WTSP-TV |date=June 27, 2022}}</ref> |
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Though the Tampa Bay area is sometimes referred to as the "Lightning Capital of the World",<ref>Jeff Klinkenberg (2008). [http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article738987.ece Meet Thunderman.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315201037/http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article738987.ece |date=2012-03-15 }} St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> it is more accurately called the “Lightning Capital of North America” if measured by average number of days with [[thunderstorm]] activity per year. During the summer, west-central Florida receives as much lightning as the world's true lightning leaders such as the [[Lake Victoria]] region of [[Africa]] and the central [[Amazon River Basin]]. However, there are few thunderstorms in the Tampa Bay area from approximately October to May, decreasing the yearly average.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> |
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The Tampa Bay area is sometimes referred to as the "Lightning Capital of the World" for its frequent thunderstorms.<ref>Jeff Klinkenberg (2008). [http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article738987.ece Meet Thunderman.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315201037/http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article738987.ece |date=2012-03-15 }} St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> Though [[Central Florida]] receives as much lightning during the summer months as the world's true lightning leaders such as the [[Lake Victoria]] region of [[Africa]] and the central [[Amazon River Basin]], thunderstorms are much less common from about October to May, so the area from Tampa to Orlando is more accurately deemed the "Lightning Capital of North America".<ref name="gainesville2003"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Area just outside of Orlando named lightning capital of the U.S. |url=https://www.wfla.com/weather/area-just-outside-of-orlando-named-lightning-capital-of-the-u-s/ |work=WFLA-TV |date=January 7, 2023}}</ref> An average of about a dozen people are killed by lightning in Florida every year, with several annually in the Tampa area.,<ref>St. Petersburg Times (1999). [http://www2.sptimes.com/weather/SW.1.html Lightning capital of the nation.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412013655/http://www2.sptimes.com/weather/SW.1.html |date=2011-04-12 }} Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> and [[TECO Energy]], Tampa's primary electric utility, spends several millions dollars annually to repair [[transformer]]s and other equipment damaged by lightning strikes.<ref name="pineapple1998">{{cite book | last = Henry | first = James | title = The Climate and Weather of Florida | publisher = Pineapple Press (FL) | location = Sarasota, Florida | year = 1998 | isbn = 978-1-56164-036-2 }}</ref> [[University of Florida]] lightning expert [[Martin A. Uman]] has calculated that the average resident is within a half-mile of 10 to 15 lightning strikes every year.<ref>[http://www.lightning.ece.ufl.edu/ Lightning Research Laboratory (UF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219194554/http://www.lightning.ece.ufl.edu/ |date=2013-12-19 }}. Lightning.ece.ufl.edu. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> |
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=== Dry |
=== Dry season === |
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[[File:Jamaican tall Coconuts.JPG|thumb|Coconut palms at the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum in northeast [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]].]] |
[[File:Jamaican tall Coconuts.JPG|thumb|Coconut palms at the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum in northeast [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]].]] |
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The dry season often begins in early November and can last into early May. The local weather during these months is normally sunny, mild, and quite dry, with a general cooling trend through the fall and a slow increase in temperatures starting in February. Highs during the coolest part of the winter average around {{convert|70|F|C}}, usually with sunny skies. The occasional passage of a [[cold front]] will bring rain followed by a few days of cooler temperatures.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> Lows rarely reach freezing {{convert|32|F|C}}, an occurrence which happens, on average, once every other year in areas away from the water and less frequently in areas on Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="gainesville2003">{{cite book | last = Winsberg | first = Morton | title = Florida Weather | publisher = University Press of Florida | location = Gainesville | year = 2003 | isbn = 978-0-8130-2684-8 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/floridaweather0000wins_u3s2 }}</ref> While deep freezes are very infrequent, serious cold snaps are a significant concern due to the diverse range of freeze-sensitive [[agriculture]] and [[aquaculture]] industries in the area as well as tropical landscaping such as coconut palms and royal palms. |
The dry season often begins in early November and can last into early May. The local weather during these months is normally sunny, mild, and quite dry, with a general cooling trend through the fall and a slow increase in temperatures starting in February. Highs during the coolest part of the winter average around {{convert|70|F|C}}, usually with sunny skies. The occasional passage of a [[cold front]] will bring rain followed by a few days of cooler temperatures.<ref name="gainesville2003"/> Lows rarely reach freezing {{convert|32|F|C}}, an occurrence which happens, on average, once every other year in areas away from the water and less frequently in areas on Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="gainesville2003">{{cite book | last = Winsberg | first = Morton | title = Florida Weather | publisher = University Press of Florida | location = Gainesville | year = 2003 | isbn = 978-0-8130-2684-8 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/floridaweather0000wins_u3s2 }}</ref> While deep freezes are very infrequent, serious cold snaps are a significant concern due to the diverse range of freeze-sensitive [[agriculture]] and [[aquaculture]] industries in the area as well as tropical landscaping such as coconut palms and royal palms. |
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Frozen precipitation is very rare in the Tampa Bay area. The only known measurable snowfall in Tampa after 1900 occurred on January 19, 1977. While the accumulation amounted to less than {{convert|0.5|in|mm}}, the city is so unaccustomed to snow that public schools closed for the day and many businesses and roadways closed until it melted away that afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|author=ShannonMulaire |url=http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/107-snow-tampa-florida-cold-weather |title=Will it snow in Tampa? |publisher=Myfoxtampabay.com |date=2009-01-28 | |
Frozen precipitation is very rare in the Tampa Bay area. The only known measurable snowfall in Tampa after 1900 occurred on January 19, 1977. While the accumulation amounted to less than {{convert|0.5|in|mm}}, the city is so unaccustomed to snow that public schools closed for the day and many businesses and roadways closed until it melted away that afternoon.<ref>{{cite web |author=ShannonMulaire |url=http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/107-snow-tampa-florida-cold-weather |title=Will it snow in Tampa? |publisher=Myfoxtampabay.com |date=2009-01-28 |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-date=2012-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225071249/http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/107-snow-tampa-florida-cold-weather |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many residents of southern Pinellas County reported a light snowfall on December 23, 1989. However, no snow fell at official weather stations, and the weather record indicates that light [[Ice pellets|sleet]] fell on St. Petersburg that day.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/12/Life/The_great_Tampa_Bay_s.shtml The Great Tampa Bay snow of '89.] St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> |
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The winter of 2009–2010 was one of the coldest in local history. Both Tampa and St. Petersburg set records for consecutive days in which the high temperature did not reach {{convert|60|°F|°C}}, and Tampa experienced ten consecutive days with a low temperature below freezing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/19/coldest-winter-tampa-1902-ends-saturday/ |title=Coldest winter in Tampa since 1969 ends Saturday |publisher=.tbo.com |date=2010-03-19 | |
The winter of 2009–2010 was one of the coldest in local history. Both Tampa and St. Petersburg set records for consecutive days in which the high temperature did not reach {{convert|60|°F|°C}}, and Tampa experienced ten consecutive days with a low temperature below freezing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/19/coldest-winter-tampa-1902-ends-saturday/ |title=Coldest winter in Tampa since 1969 ends Saturday |publisher=.tbo.com |date=2010-03-19 |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329154319/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/19/coldest-winter-tampa-1902-ends-saturday/ |archive-date=2010-03-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtsp.com/includes/tools/print.aspx?storyid=122326 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209220317/http://www.wtsp.com/includes/tools/print.aspx?storyid=122326 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-09 |title=Record Breaking 10 Straight Days Below 60 Degrees WTSP.com 10 Connects |publisher=Wtsp.com |access-date=2010-06-21 }}</ref> Much of the area received a "wintry mix" of rain and sleet on January 9–10.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/sleet-falls-for-first-time-since-1996-in-northern-tampa-bay-area/1064387 |title=Sleet falls in the Tampa Bay area |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221952/http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/sleet-falls-for-first-time-since-1996-in-northern-tampa-bay-area/1064387 |archive-date=2013-10-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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According to [[The Weather Channel]], Tampa's all-time record low temperature is {{convert|18|°F|°C}} and St. Petersburg's is {{convert|20|°F|°C}}, both occurring during the same cold snap on December 13, 1962.<ref>{{cite web |
According to [[The Weather Channel]], Tampa's all-time record low temperature is {{convert|18|°F|°C}} and St. Petersburg's is {{convert|20|°F|°C}}, both occurring during the same cold snap on December 13, 1962.<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/a0f376eb1e923c1efca026bbdf5822657ec7c4f3fc170d0b378fc44d0b905c87 |
|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/a0f376eb1e923c1efca026bbdf5822657ec7c4f3fc170d0b378fc44d0b905c87|title=Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation|publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref> |
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|title=Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation |
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|publisher=www.weather.com |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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During El Niño, the Tampa Bay area receives cooler and wetter conditions during the dry season while during La Niña, the Tampa Bay area becomes drier and warmer than normal. |
During El Niño, the Tampa Bay area receives cooler and wetter conditions during the dry season while during La Niña, the Tampa Bay area becomes drier and warmer than normal. |
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=== Precipitation and sunshine trends === |
=== Precipitation and sunshine trends === |
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Due to the frequent summer [[thunderstorm]]s, Tampa has a pronounced [[wet season]], receiving |
Due to the frequent summer [[thunderstorm]]s, Tampa has a pronounced [[wet season]], receiving a yearly average of about {{convert|30|in|mm}} of rain from June to September but only about {{convert|19|in|mm}} during the remaining eight months of the year combined. The historical averages late in the wet season are augmented by the passage of [[tropical cyclone]]s, which can drop several inches of rain in just a few hours. Outside of the summer rainy season, most of the area's precipitation is delivered by occasional [[weather fronts]] - cold fronts often bring brief but intense rain while warm fronts tend to bring light rain over longer periods of time.<ref name="pineapple1998" /> |
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Tampa |
Precipitation and temperature averages for the city of Tampa itself tend to fall near the median for the area. Communities to the interior tend to receive a bit more rain and experience slightly wider temperature fluctuations, while those on the Gulf coast tend to receive a bit less rain and less pronounced temperature differences, both in a single day and through the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USFL0481?from=search|title=The Weather Channel (weather.com)|publisher=The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.|access-date=2006-11-25}}</ref> |
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The area receives plentiful sunshine throughout the year, averaging a total of 2920 hours, or 66.7% of the possible total.<ref name="HKO">[http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/asia/westasia/almaty_e.htm Climatological Information for Almaty, Kazakhstan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114627/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/asia/westasia/almaty_e.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}. Retrieved 16 August 2012.</ref> The daily sunshine amount is highest in May, when the sun's [[Effect of sun angle on climate|angle of incidence]] |
The area receives plentiful sunshine throughout the year, averaging a total of 2920 hours, or 66.7% of the possible total.<ref name="HKO">[http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/asia/westasia/almaty_e.htm Climatological Information for Almaty, Kazakhstan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114627/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/asia/westasia/almaty_e.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}. Retrieved 16 August 2012.</ref> The daily sunshine amount is highest in May, when the sun's [[Effect of sun angle on climate|angle of incidence]] brings more hours of daylight but the rainy season has not yet begun.<ref name = HKO /> |
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== Tropical systems == |
== Tropical systems == |
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[[File: |
[[File:Frances 2004-09-05 1815Z.jpg|right|thumb|125px| [[Hurricane Frances]] over Florida in [[2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season|2004]] ]] |
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June through November is [[Tropical cyclone#Times|hurricane season]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic Basin]] and [[Caribbean Sea]], with the most tropical activity occurring between mid-August to mid-October.<ref>[[National Weather Service]] Office in Tampa Bay, Florida (2009). [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/TampaBayTropicalWeather.php Tampa Bay Area Tropical Weather Page]. [[National Weather Service]] Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> [[Rain]] dropped by [[Tropical cyclone|tropical systems]] is an important component of the area's annual [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] and is vital for replenishing the water supply of communities around Tampa Bay.<ref>Craig Pittman (2009). [http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article970793.ece Tampa Bay Water likely to overdraw from aquifer this spring.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315201139/http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article970793.ece |date=2012-03-15 }} St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> |
June through November is [[Tropical cyclone#Times|hurricane season]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic Basin]] and [[Caribbean Sea]], with the most tropical activity occurring between mid-August to mid-October.<ref>[[National Weather Service]] Office in Tampa Bay, Florida (2009). [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/TampaBayTropicalWeather.php Tampa Bay Area Tropical Weather Page]. [[National Weather Service]] Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> [[Rain]] dropped by [[Tropical cyclone|tropical systems]] is an important component of the area's annual [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] and is vital for replenishing the water supply of communities around Tampa Bay.<ref>Craig Pittman (2009). [http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article970793.ece Tampa Bay Water likely to overdraw from aquifer this spring.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315201139/http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article970793.ece |date=2012-03-15 }} St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref> |
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The area is threatened by tropical systems almost every year and feels some effect from passing storms several times per decade. However, due to Tampa Bay's location on the west coast and the typical steering winds for storms, [[Landfall (meteorology)|landfall]] in the area is very uncommon, with estimates of the probability of a hurricane making landfall in the Tampa Bay area during any given year ranging from 1 in 25 to 1 in 50.<ref name="pineapple1998"/><ref>Bob Macpherson (2008). [http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/beach_beacon/content_articles/052708_bhb-01.txt Experts brief citizens on hurricane preparedness.] Tampa Bay Beach Beacon. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> The small village of Tampa was devastated by the [[Great Gale of 1848]], and the area suffered major damage during the [[Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921]]. Since then, however, Tampa Bay has not seen the landfall of any hurricane. [[Manatee County]], which is technically not part of the [[Tampa Bay area]], in 1946 was the site of a Category 1 hurricane that lost hurricane strength immediately after landfall.<ref>[[Chris Landsea]] (2005). [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E24.html Subject: E24) How long has it been since a hurricane or a major hurricane hit a given community in the United States?] [[Hurricane Research Division]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/hurricanes/the-tampa-bay-area-has-been-lucky/1096585|title = The Tampa Bay area has been lucky|date = May 21, 2010| |
The area is threatened by tropical systems almost every year and feels some effect from passing storms several times per decade. However, due to Tampa Bay's location on the west coast and the typical steering winds for storms, [[Landfall (meteorology)|landfall]] in the area is very uncommon, with estimates of the probability of a hurricane making landfall in the Tampa Bay area during any given year ranging from 1 in 25 to 1 in 50.<ref name="pineapple1998"/><ref>Bob Macpherson (2008). [http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/beach_beacon/content_articles/052708_bhb-01.txt Experts brief citizens on hurricane preparedness.] Tampa Bay Beach Beacon. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> The small village of Tampa was devastated by the [[Great Gale of 1848]], and the area suffered major damage during the [[Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921]]. Since then, however, Tampa Bay has not seen the landfall of any hurricane. [[Manatee County]], which is technically not part of the [[Tampa Bay area]], in 1946 was the site of a Category 1 hurricane that lost hurricane strength immediately after landfall.<ref>[[Chris Landsea]] (2005). [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E24.html Subject: E24) How long has it been since a hurricane or a major hurricane hit a given community in the United States?] [[Hurricane Research Division]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/hurricanes/the-tampa-bay-area-has-been-lucky/1096585|title = The Tampa Bay area has been lucky|date = May 21, 2010|access-date = October 24, 2016|website = Tampa Bay Times|last = McClure|first = Brian|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161025050824/http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/hurricanes/the-tampa-bay-area-has-been-lucky/1096585|archive-date = October 25, 2016|df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Jay|title=Florida's Hurricane History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e8E3CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169|year=2012|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|isbn=978-1-4696-0021-5|page=169}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | The [[2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season]] was historically busy for the Tampa Bay area. The region was affected by a record four hurricanes that year; [[Hurricane Frances|Frances]], [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]], [[Hurricane Charley|Charley]], and to a lesser extent, [[Hurricane Ivan|Ivan]].<ref>Jamie Thompson and Chase Squires (2004). [https://archive.today/20130131191322/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/750430101.html?dids=750430101:750430101&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+1,+2004&author=JAMIE+THOMPSON;CHASE+SQUIRES&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=2004+HURRICANE+SEASON+ENDS+//+Windblown 2004 Hurricane Season Ends.] St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> Jeanne and Frances passed over Tampa as tropical storms after making their way across the state from the east coast.<ref>Miles B. Lawrence and Hugh D. Cobb (2005). [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004jeanne.shtml Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Jeanne 13–28 September 2004.] [[National Hurricane Center]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref><ref>John L. Beven II (2004). [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004frances.shtml Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Frances 25 August – 8 September 2004.] [[National Hurricane Center]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> Charley was forecast to make a direct hit on Tampa Bay from the south-southwest, which would have been the worst-case scenario for local [[storm surge]] flooding.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/17/Weather/Shrinking_core_reduce.shtml Weather: Shrinking core reduced storm surge<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> But the storm made a sudden and unexpected turn to the northeast and brought only tropical storm force winds to the region, devastating the [[Fort Myers, Florida|Ft. Myers]]/[[Port Charlotte, Florida|Port Charlotte]] area instead.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/22/State/Countdown_to_landfall.shtml State: Countdown to landfall<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>Richard J. Pasch, Daniel P. Brown, and Eric S. Blake (2005). [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004charley.shtml Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Charley 9–14 August 2004.] [[National Hurricane Center]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> Ivan also threatened the area as it moved north up the eastern [[Gulf of Mexico]]. It remained far to the west of central Florida, however, and brought only a bit of rain and wind to Tampa Bay before eventually slamming into coastal [[Alabama]] and the [[Florida Panhandle]].<ref>Stacey R. Stewart (2005). [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ivan 2–24 September 2004.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821195240/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml |date=August 21, 2007 }} [[National Hurricane Center]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref> |
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| ⚫ | On September 10, 2017, [[Hurricane Irma]] struck the [[Florida Keys]] and made landfall near [[Marco Island]] in southwest Florida as a Category 3 storm. Irma moved north up the length of the Florida peninsula and had weakened to a Category 1 storm by the time it neared central Florida. On the night of September 10 and 11, the eye passed east of Tampa through eastern Hillsborough County, bringing at least tropical storm winds to the entire Tampa Bay area. Irma caused significant damage to the region, particularly to the [[electrical grid]]. |
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| ⚫ | On September 10, 2017, [[Hurricane Irma]] struck the [[Florida Keys]] and made landfall near [[Marco Island]] in southwest Florida as a Category 3 storm. Irma moved north up the length of the Florida peninsula and had weakened to a Category 1 storm by the time it neared central Florida. On the night of September 10 and 11, the eye passed east of Tampa through eastern Hillsborough County, bringing at least tropical storm winds to the entire Tampa Bay area. Irma caused significant damage to the region, particularly to the [[electrical grid]]. |
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===The 2004 Tropical Season=== |
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| ⚫ | The [[2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season]] was historically busy for the Tampa Bay area. The region was affected by a record four hurricanes that year; [[Hurricane Frances|Frances]], [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]], [[Hurricane Charley|Charley]], and to a lesser extent, [[Hurricane Ivan|Ivan]].<ref>Jamie Thompson and Chase Squires (2004). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/750430101.html?dids=750430101:750430101&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+1 |
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==Tampa data== |
==Tampa data== |
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{{Tampa, FL weatherbox|center}} |
{{Tampa, FL weatherbox|center}} |
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{{Graph:Weather monthly history |
{{Graph:Weather monthly history| table=ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Tampa, Florida.tab| title=Tampa monthly weather statistics}} |
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| table=ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Tampa, Florida.tab |
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| title=Tampa monthly weather statistics |
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}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Climate of Florida]] |
*[[Climate of Florida]] |
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*[[Climate of Miami]] |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{Tampa, Florida}} |
{{Tampa, Florida|state=expanded}} |
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{{ClimateUS}} |
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{{Good article}} |
{{Good article}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Climate Of The Tampa Bay Area}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Climate Of The Tampa Bay Area}} |
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[[Category:Climate |
[[Category:Climate in the United States by populated place|Tampa Bay]] |
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[[Category:Climate of Florida]] |
[[Category:Climate of Florida]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:22, 19 December 2024
The Tampa Bay area has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), closely bordering a tropical climate near the waterfront areas. There are two basic seasons in the Tampa Bay area, a hot and wet season from May through October, and a mild and dry season from November through April.
Nearly two-thirds of the annual precipitation falls in the months of June through September. The area is listed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as being in hardiness zone 10a as well as hardiness zone 10b along the immediate coast and in peninsular Pinellas;[1] which is about the northern limit of where coconut palms and royal palms can be grown. Highs usually range between 65 and 95 °F (18–35 °C) year round. Tampa's official high has never reached 100 °F (38 °C) – the city's all-time record temperature is 99 °F (37 °C). St. Petersburg's all-time record high is exactly 100 °F (38 °C).[2]
Pinellas County lies on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and much of the city of Tampa lies on a smaller peninsula jutting out into Tampa Bay. This proximity to large bodies of water both moderates temperatures and introduces large amounts of humidity into the atmosphere. In general, the local communities farthest from the coast have larger temperature ranges, both during a single day and throughout the seasons of the year.[3]
Seasonal weather
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Wet season
[edit]
The warm and rainy season typically begins in late May and runs through October.[5] Average high temperatures are in the low 90s °F (around 32 °C) with lows in the mid-70s °F (around 24 °C) during this period, and the combination of warm temperatures and high humidity brings an almost daily chance of rain and thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. Day-to-day weather is remarkably consistent, with summertime average highs and lows within five to ten degrees of the record high and low for any given date.[6]
In the typical summertime weather pattern, the combination of daytime heating and the interaction of the Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes creates thermal-fueled cumulus clouds over the Florida peninsula. These can produce rain showers or grow into towering thunderheads, either of which tend to drift westward on upper-level winds produced by the Bermuda high, a semi-permanent weather feature over the Atlantic Ocean that strengthens during the summer months.[5] These storms can form anywhere across Central Florida from the interior near Orlando to along the west coast, depending on the wind and local weather conditions. Wherever they develop, Tampa's most common summer weather pattern results in afternoon thundershowers that usually rain themselves out by sunset, though on occasion, a storm cell will persist and drift west to the Gulf of Mexico to produce nighttime lightning displays visible from local beaches.[3]
A less common summer weather pattern is for prevailing westerly winds to cause overnight thundershowers to form offshore along a land breeze front. These storms bring morning rain to the Tampa area before moving inland later in the day, reversing the more typical timing. While afternoon storms are usually followed by a clear and cooler evening, morning rain often results in higher than usual humidity levels and the possibility of more storms developing in the afternoon.[5]
Summer storms typically bring brief periods of heavy rain and gusty winds with frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. They can grow severe, bringing strong straight-line winds, small hail, and torrential rain, and an occasional tornado. (While Florida sees the highest number of tornadoes per square mile of any state, the majority are small, weak, and short-lived compared to those seen in mid-western states.[7]) Waterspouts sometimes form when outflows from adjacent storm cells interact and begin to rotate over water, creating a funnel cloud over Tampa Bay or off the gulf beaches. These features usually stay offshore but occasionally reach land as a short-lived weak tornado.[8]
The Tampa Bay area is sometimes referred to as the "Lightning Capital of the World" for its frequent thunderstorms.[9] Though Central Florida receives as much lightning during the summer months as the world's true lightning leaders such as the Lake Victoria region of Africa and the central Amazon River Basin, thunderstorms are much less common from about October to May, so the area from Tampa to Orlando is more accurately deemed the "Lightning Capital of North America".[3][10] An average of about a dozen people are killed by lightning in Florida every year, with several annually in the Tampa area.,[11] and TECO Energy, Tampa's primary electric utility, spends several millions dollars annually to repair transformers and other equipment damaged by lightning strikes.[12] University of Florida lightning expert Martin A. Uman has calculated that the average resident is within a half-mile of 10 to 15 lightning strikes every year.[13]
Dry season
[edit]
The dry season often begins in early November and can last into early May. The local weather during these months is normally sunny, mild, and quite dry, with a general cooling trend through the fall and a slow increase in temperatures starting in February. Highs during the coolest part of the winter average around 70 °F (21 °C), usually with sunny skies. The occasional passage of a cold front will bring rain followed by a few days of cooler temperatures.[3] Lows rarely reach freezing 32 °F (0 °C), an occurrence which happens, on average, once every other year in areas away from the water and less frequently in areas on Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.[3] While deep freezes are very infrequent, serious cold snaps are a significant concern due to the diverse range of freeze-sensitive agriculture and aquaculture industries in the area as well as tropical landscaping such as coconut palms and royal palms.
Frozen precipitation is very rare in the Tampa Bay area. The only known measurable snowfall in Tampa after 1900 occurred on January 19, 1977. While the accumulation amounted to less than 0.5 inches (13 mm), the city is so unaccustomed to snow that public schools closed for the day and many businesses and roadways closed until it melted away that afternoon.[14] Many residents of southern Pinellas County reported a light snowfall on December 23, 1989. However, no snow fell at official weather stations, and the weather record indicates that light sleet fell on St. Petersburg that day.[15]
The winter of 2009–2010 was one of the coldest in local history. Both Tampa and St. Petersburg set records for consecutive days in which the high temperature did not reach 60 °F (16 °C), and Tampa experienced ten consecutive days with a low temperature below freezing.[16][17] Much of the area received a "wintry mix" of rain and sleet on January 9–10.[18]
According to The Weather Channel, Tampa's all-time record low temperature is 18 °F (−8 °C) and St. Petersburg's is 20 °F (−7 °C), both occurring during the same cold snap on December 13, 1962.[19]
During El Niño, the Tampa Bay area receives cooler and wetter conditions during the dry season while during La Niña, the Tampa Bay area becomes drier and warmer than normal.
Precipitation and sunshine trends
[edit]Due to the frequent summer thunderstorms, Tampa has a pronounced wet season, receiving a yearly average of about 30 inches (760 mm) of rain from June to September but only about 19 inches (480 mm) during the remaining eight months of the year combined. The historical averages late in the wet season are augmented by the passage of tropical cyclones, which can drop several inches of rain in just a few hours. Outside of the summer rainy season, most of the area's precipitation is delivered by occasional weather fronts - cold fronts often bring brief but intense rain while warm fronts tend to bring light rain over longer periods of time.[12]
Precipitation and temperature averages for the city of Tampa itself tend to fall near the median for the area. Communities to the interior tend to receive a bit more rain and experience slightly wider temperature fluctuations, while those on the Gulf coast tend to receive a bit less rain and less pronounced temperature differences, both in a single day and through the year.[20]
The area receives plentiful sunshine throughout the year, averaging a total of 2920 hours, or 66.7% of the possible total.[21] The daily sunshine amount is highest in May, when the sun's angle of incidence brings more hours of daylight but the rainy season has not yet begun.[21]
Tropical systems
[edit]
June through November is hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin and Caribbean Sea, with the most tropical activity occurring between mid-August to mid-October.[22] Rain dropped by tropical systems is an important component of the area's annual precipitation and is vital for replenishing the water supply of communities around Tampa Bay.[23]
The area is threatened by tropical systems almost every year and feels some effect from passing storms several times per decade. However, due to Tampa Bay's location on the west coast and the typical steering winds for storms, landfall in the area is very uncommon, with estimates of the probability of a hurricane making landfall in the Tampa Bay area during any given year ranging from 1 in 25 to 1 in 50.[12][24] The small village of Tampa was devastated by the Great Gale of 1848, and the area suffered major damage during the Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921. Since then, however, Tampa Bay has not seen the landfall of any hurricane. Manatee County, which is technically not part of the Tampa Bay area, in 1946 was the site of a Category 1 hurricane that lost hurricane strength immediately after landfall.[25][26][27]
The 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season was historically busy for the Tampa Bay area. The region was affected by a record four hurricanes that year; Frances, Jeanne, Charley, and to a lesser extent, Ivan.[28] Jeanne and Frances passed over Tampa as tropical storms after making their way across the state from the east coast.[29][30] Charley was forecast to make a direct hit on Tampa Bay from the south-southwest, which would have been the worst-case scenario for local storm surge flooding.[31] But the storm made a sudden and unexpected turn to the northeast and brought only tropical storm force winds to the region, devastating the Ft. Myers/Port Charlotte area instead.[32][33] Ivan also threatened the area as it moved north up the eastern Gulf of Mexico. It remained far to the west of central Florida, however, and brought only a bit of rain and wind to Tampa Bay before eventually slamming into coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.[34]
On September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys and made landfall near Marco Island in southwest Florida as a Category 3 storm. Irma moved north up the length of the Florida peninsula and had weakened to a Category 1 storm by the time it neared central Florida. On the night of September 10 and 11, the eye passed east of Tampa through eastern Hillsborough County, bringing at least tropical storm winds to the entire Tampa Bay area. Irma caused significant damage to the region, particularly to the electrical grid.
Tampa data
[edit]| Climate data for Tampa, Florida (Tampa Int'l), 1991−2020 normals,[a] extremes 1890−present[b] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
86 (30) |
99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 81.8 (27.7) |
82.5 (28.1) |
85.4 (29.7) |
89.0 (31.7) |
93.4 (34.1) |
95.0 (35.0) |
94.8 (34.9) |
94.8 (34.9) |
93.8 (34.3) |
91.1 (32.8) |
86.4 (30.2) |
82.5 (28.1) |
96.2 (35.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71.3 (21.8) |
74.0 (23.3) |
77.8 (25.4) |
83.0 (28.3) |
88.3 (31.3) |
90.5 (32.5) |
91.0 (32.8) |
91.2 (32.9) |
90.2 (32.3) |
85.6 (29.8) |
78.9 (26.1) |
73.9 (23.3) |
83.0 (28.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 62.0 (16.7) |
64.7 (18.2) |
68.6 (20.3) |
73.9 (23.3) |
79.5 (26.4) |
82.9 (28.3) |
83.8 (28.8) |
84.0 (28.9) |
82.7 (28.2) |
77.4 (25.2) |
69.8 (21.0) |
64.9 (18.3) |
74.5 (23.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 52.8 (11.6) |
55.5 (13.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
64.8 (18.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
75.4 (24.1) |
76.6 (24.8) |
76.8 (24.9) |
75.3 (24.1) |
69.2 (20.7) |
60.7 (15.9) |
55.9 (13.3) |
66.1 (18.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 34.4 (1.3) |
38.8 (3.8) |
43.4 (6.3) |
51.6 (10.9) |
61.2 (16.2) |
69.9 (21.1) |
71.8 (22.1) |
72.5 (22.5) |
69.2 (20.7) |
54.9 (12.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
39.5 (4.2) |
32.8 (0.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 21 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
29 (−2) |
38 (3) |
49 (9) |
53 (12) |
63 (17) |
66 (19) |
54 (12) |
40 (4) |
23 (−5) |
18 (−8) |
18 (−8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.65 (67) |
2.62 (67) |
2.52 (64) |
2.55 (65) |
2.60 (66) |
7.37 (187) |
7.75 (197) |
9.03 (229) |
6.09 (155) |
2.34 (59) |
1.40 (36) |
2.56 (65) |
49.48 (1,257) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.1 | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 13.3 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 12.8 | 7.2 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 108.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74.9 | 73.0 | 71.8 | 69.0 | 69.8 | 74.4 | 76.6 | 78.4 | 77.6 | 74.2 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 74.1 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 50.2 (10.1) |
50.7 (10.4) |
55.6 (13.1) |
59.2 (15.1) |
64.9 (18.3) |
70.9 (21.6) |
72.7 (22.6) |
73.0 (22.8) |
71.2 (21.8) |
64.2 (17.9) |
57.7 (14.3) |
52.3 (11.3) |
61.9 (16.6) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 213.9 | 231.7 | 260.4 | 279.0 | 337.9 | 321.0 | 334.8 | 294.5 | 267.0 | 235.6 | 195.0 | 195.3 | 3,166.1 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 6.9 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 9.3 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 9.5 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 8.7 |
| Mean daily daylight hours | 10.6 | 11.2 | 12.0 | 12.9 | 13.5 | 13.9 | 13.7 | 13.1 | 12.3 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 10.4 | 12.2 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 65 | 73 | 70 | 72 | 81 | 77 | 79 | 73 | 72 | 66 | 60 | 61 | 71 |
| Average ultraviolet index | 4.4 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 9.6 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 10.1 | 8.7 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 7.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961−1990)[35][36][37] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: UV Index Today (1995–2022)[38] Source 3: Weather Atlas (sunshine data)[39] | |||||||||||||
 | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
See or edit raw graph data.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ^ Official records for Tampa were kept at downtown from April 1890 to December 1940, Peter O. Knight Airport from January 1941 to 5 June 1946, and at Tampa Int'l since 7 June 1946. For more information, see ThreadEx
References
[edit]- ^ "Interactive Map - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". USDA Agricultural Research Service. USDA. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
- ^ Tampa Weather Forecasts on Yahoo! Weather Archived December 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Weather.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ a b c d e Winsberg, Morton (2003). Florida Weather. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-2684-8.
- ^ "Tampa 1991-2020 Monthly Climate Normals". www.weather.gov. NOAA.
- ^ a b c Mulligan, Michaela (August 21, 2023). "Tampa Bay's afternoon storms are a summer staple. Why is this year different?". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "National Weather Service - Tampa climate data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- ^ "Top Ten Tornado Lists". Tornadoproject.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Waterspout forms in St. Pete Beach". WTSP-TV. June 27, 2022.
- ^ Jeff Klinkenberg (2008). Meet Thunderman. Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ "Area just outside of Orlando named lightning capital of the U.S." WFLA-TV. January 7, 2023.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times (1999). Lightning capital of the nation. Archived 2011-04-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ a b c Henry, James (1998). The Climate and Weather of Florida. Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press (FL). ISBN 978-1-56164-036-2.
- ^ Lightning Research Laboratory (UF) Archived 2013-12-19 at the Wayback Machine. Lightning.ece.ufl.edu. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ ShannonMulaire (2009-01-28). "Will it snow in Tampa?". Myfoxtampabay.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ The Great Tampa Bay snow of '89. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Coldest winter in Tampa since 1969 ends Saturday". .tbo.com. 2010-03-19. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Record Breaking 10 Straight Days Below 60 Degrees WTSP.com 10 Connects". Wtsp.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Sleet falls in the Tampa Bay area". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation". The Weather Channel.
- ^ "The Weather Channel (weather.com)". The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ a b Climatological Information for Almaty, Kazakhstan Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ National Weather Service Office in Tampa Bay, Florida (2009). Tampa Bay Area Tropical Weather Page. National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ Craig Pittman (2009). Tampa Bay Water likely to overdraw from aquifer this spring. Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ Bob Macpherson (2008). Experts brief citizens on hurricane preparedness. Tampa Bay Beach Beacon. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Chris Landsea (2005). Subject: E24) How long has it been since a hurricane or a major hurricane hit a given community in the United States? Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ McClure, Brian (May 21, 2010). "The Tampa Bay area has been lucky". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Barnes, Jay (2012). Florida's Hurricane History. University of North Carolina Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-4696-0021-5.
- ^ Jamie Thompson and Chase Squires (2004). 2004 Hurricane Season Ends. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Miles B. Lawrence and Hugh D. Cobb (2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Jeanne 13–28 September 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ John L. Beven II (2004). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Frances 25 August – 8 September 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Weather: Shrinking core reduced storm surge
- ^ State: Countdown to landfall
- ^ Richard J. Pasch, Daniel P. Brown, and Eric S. Blake (2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Charley 9–14 August 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Stacey R. Stewart (2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ivan 2–24 September 2004. Archived August 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for TAMPA/INT'L ARPT FL 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
- ^ "Historical UV Index Data - Tampa, FL". UV Index Today. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Tampa, Florida - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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