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

It will be a cloudy and windy start to Thursday as a cold front comes through.

A few morning showers will give way to gradual clearing the rest of the day.

Winds could gust up to 30 mph at times out of the northwest.  

Temperatures will hold steady in the 50s much of the day and will drop significantly at night. 

Freezing temperatures are expected Thursday night into Friday morning for parts of the area.

High: 59

Low: 35

Rain Coverage: 50% AM

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Seniors 65+ qualify for new $6,000 tax break
Some senior citizens may get more money back on their tax returns this year. Seniors 65 and older can claim an additional $6,000 for a single person, and $12,000 for married couples, without having to itemize their deductions.

2. Duke Energy announces early removal of customers’ storm-related charges
Duke Energy announced today it is dropping storm recovery charges for customers a month earlier than originally scheduled.

3. Coldest air of the season so far expected Friday morning
A strong cold front comes through tomorrow, bringing chilly air through Saturday morning.

4. U.S. to pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries
The Trump administration is set to freeze visa applications for people from 75 countries –– including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, Yemen and Haiti –– beginning Jan. 21 and continuing indefinitely.

5. The Hillsborough Health Care Plan budget: What you need to know
As state lawmakers weigh potential property tax rollbacks later this year, concerns are growing about the long-term stability of the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan (HCHCP), which relies heavily on property tax revenue for funding.

6. ZooTampa celebrates its first animal birth of 2026
ZooTampa at Lowry Park on Wednesday announced that it is celebrating the birth of a critically endangered eastern bongo calf, the zoo’s first animal birth of the year.

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

TAMPA TRAFFIC ALERT | The intersection of South MacDill Avenue and West Azeele Street will be closed while the Tampa Water Department returns to complete a more permanent restoration following earlier work to repair a water main break. The intersection will be closed from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily until the work is completed. The completion of the work with a return to normal traffic patterns is expected by Friday, Jan. 16 ay 12 a.m. The Tampa Water Department may need to return at a later date to complete additional work. 
FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX TICKET SALES | Single Day tickets to the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg go on sale to the public tomorrow at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available online at gpstpete.com for the 22nd annual running of the racing event in downtown St. Petersburg, Feb. 27 – March 1. Daily General Admission tickets are $30 for Friday, $55 for Saturday and $70 for Sunday. Single Day Grandstand tickets are $135 for Silver and $110 for Bronze seating. Junior pricing is available for attendees ages 12 and under.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY | The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections invites college students to apply for a scholarship provided by the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE). The FSE is offering three $1,200 scholarships to eligible Florida residents who are accepted or enrolled as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida. Students must also be at least a junior in college, or have enough credits for enrollment as a junior prior to the application date. Students who apply must be either a Political Science, Public/Business Administration, or Journalism/Mass Communication major. The application deadline is March 6, 2026. To learn about the full list of requirements and how to apply, applicants can visit VoteHillsborough.gov/Scholarship or e-mail communications@votehillsborough.gov.
UNIVERSAL MARDI GRAS CONCERT LINEUP | Guests at Universal Orlando can enjoy a live concert series during the return of its event, Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval from February 7 through April 4. The concert series takes place on select nights and is included with regular park admission to Universal Studios Florida, park officials said. Attractions Insider shares who you can expect to see.

National Notes

Thursday, Jan. 15

IRS quarterly tax filing deadline day
Import and Export Price Indexes
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report – Initial Claims
NASA astronauts conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station to replace a high-definition camera on camera port 3, install a new navigational aid for visiting spacecraft on the Harmony module’s forward port, and relocate an early ammonia servicer jumper along with other jumpers on the station’s S6 and S4 truss. The spacewalk is expected to last about six hours and 30 minutes 7:10AM ET

Chef Jason Borajkiewicz of The Restorative in Dunedin shares his ricotta gnocchi recipe. It’s five ingredients, and chef adds a butter glaze and toppings.