Good evening, Tampa Bay. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

The gradual warming trend continues for Thursday with highs in the mid 70s.

Winds will be out of the south at around 10 to 15 mph with mostly sunny skies.

It will not be as cool for Thursday night with lows near 60 around Tampa, but 50s inland and north. 

Rain chances will increase for late Friday and into the weekend. 

Highs: 76  

Lows: 61

Rain Coverage: 0%

 

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Florida Strawberry Festival 2026: Dates, entertainment, food and more
The Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off tomorrow. View our guide for everything to know including this year’s entertainment lineup, new food options and more.

2. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise
Florida currently has one of the highest rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the U.S., according to the National Library of Medicine.

3. Lightning coach Jon Cooper to miss 2 games after death of father
He will miss tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with tomorrow night’s game at the Carolina Hurricanes.

4. Crew-11 astronaut with mission-ending medical issue identifies self
In a prepared statement, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke revealed that it was he who suffered a medical issue onboard the International Space Station that resulted in the Crew-11 mission being cut short.

5. More snow falls on the Northeast, where huge piles remain from the last storm
Light snow fell over parts of the Northeast on Wednesday as people navigated to work and school after a massive storm that dropped piles of powder on streets and sidewalks from Maryland to Maine.

 

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

BOLTS RETURN TO ICE | The Tampa Bay Lightning are back in action tonight after a break for the Winter Olympics. The Bolts host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Benchmark International Arena, with the puck dropping at 7:30 p.m. The Lightning will enter play on a five-game winning streak, in first place in the Atlantic Division, and tied with the Carolina Hurricanes with the most points (78) in the Eastern Conference.

TAMPA TRAFFIC | Repair work to a gravity sewer main located on W. Spruce St. has started and is expected to continue through Friday. The work area spans W. Spruce St. between N. Himes Ave. and N. Sterling Ave., and will require the closure of both eastbound and westbound lanes. Detours will be in place.
ST. PETE GRAND PRIX FLAG RAISING | Mayor Kenneth T. Welch and the city of St. Petersburg will hold a flag-raising ceremony to kick off the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, in front of City Hall (175 5th St. N). This annual event is open to the public.
FREE HURRICANE KITS | Verizon, together with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Rebuilding Together Greater Florida, is hosting a community disaster readiness drive-thru event. Tampa Bay residents are invited to stop by GEICO Lot 14 at the AdventHealth Training Center between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to pick up free disaster readiness kits. Each kit includes essential emergency items such as dry bags, flashlights, first aid kits, solar powered portable chargers, solar powered radios, document bags, and informational disaster prep materials.

National Notes

Thursday, Feb. 26

Hillary Clinton appears at House Oversight deposition on Jeffrey Epstein
75th anniversary of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified, limiting the presidency to a maximum of two terms, following a successful campaign in Congress to restore the tradition which held sway before Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first and only president to serve a third – and part of a fourth – term (from 1933-1945)
Ukraine Day of Resistance to mark Crimea invasion anniversary
Commemoration ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial for anniversary of 1993 WTC bombing

Rigatoni al Funghi at Bavaro’s Napoletana & Pastaria in Sarasota– a two story spot off Fletcher Avenue and Main Street. Photo by Matt Infante/Staff

Antonio Bavaro grew up in his dad Dan’s restaurant kitchens.

And now he’s part of the second generation working at Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria.