Tampa, Fla. (WFLA) -- If you’re heading to Amalie Arena tonight to cheer on the Lightning as they face off against the Florida Panthers, expect a toasty walk into the arena. Temperatures at 5 PM will hover around 91°, making for a hot pregame. By puck drop at 6:30 PM, it’ll be gradually cooling, dipping to 86° by 7 PM. The warm evening continues with 80° at 9 PM, eventually settling to a more comfortable 76° by 11 PM. Skies will remain mostly clear, making it a pleasant night overall once the sun goes down.
Record Heat Watch
We’re running close to daily record highs in Tampa through the weekend.
- Thursday’s forecast: 91° (record: 90°)
- Friday’s forecast: 91° (record: 93°)
- Saturday’s forecast: 90° (record: 92°)
- Sunday’s forecast: 91° (record: 92°)
Extended Outlook: Hot Days Continue, With Slight Rain Chances
Looking ahead, the heat doesn’t back off much. Friday kicks off the weekend with a high of 92° under mostly sunny skies and light east winds. Saturday and Sunday stay in the low 90s as well, with just a 10% rain chance on Sunday. Overnight lows remain warm, hovering around 70°.
A few more clouds move in early next week with a slight uptick in rain chances—up to 40% on Monday and 20% on Tuesday. Even with the chance for showers, highs remain steamy in the upper 80s to low 90s. Winds begin to shift from the east to the southeast, helping to maintain the warm and muggy conditions.
By Thursday and Friday, we see a slight dip in temperatures, with highs in the upper 80s and a continued low-end rain chance around 10–20%. It may not be a major cool-down, but it could offer a bit of relief after several days of intense heat.
While not guaranteed, a few records may be challenged each afternoon, especially with mostly sunny skies and persistent warmth.
Weekend Outlook: Hot and Mainly Dry
