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

We will be partly to mostly cloudy on Thursday with highs only in the low 70s.

A breezy and cool northwest wind will help trigger a few gulf effect showers.

These will be more prevalent near the coast, with fewer inland.

Winds could occasionally gust over 25 mph.

Lows will fall to the mid 50s around Tampa at night with plenty of 40s north. 

Tropical Update

Get the latest information on the tropics

View more tropical weather graphics (Satellites, Winds, Water Temps, Saharan Dust)

Today’s Big Stories

1. Hurricane Melissa leaves dozens dead in trail of destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa left dozens dead and widespread destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, where roofless homes, toppled utility poles and water-logged furniture dominated the landscape today.

2. Federal Reserve cuts key rate as government shutdown clouds economic outlook
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate today for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated.

3. 5 get life sentences in death of 4-year-old Suni Bell; Girl’s family reacts
Five men convicted in the 2021 shooting death of 4-year-old Suni Bell received life sentences with no parole this morning in Hillsborough County Court.

4. Democrats and Republicans yield no ground as government shutdown approaches one-month mark
With several high-profile federal programs on the cusp of running out of money Saturday, Republicans and Democrats ratcheted up their blame game on Day 29 of the government shutdown with no clear end in sight. Neither side showed any signs of backing off their entrenched positions today, as hundreds of thousands of federal employees work without pay.

5. SpaceX launches nearly 30 Starlink satellites under blue skies
Even though the launch time was pushed back a few, SpaceX was able to send up nearly 30 Starlink satellites this afternoon.

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

MANATEE CENTER OPENING | Tampa Electric’s award-winning Manatee Viewing Center opens Saturday for the season. It will be open daily from Nov. 1 to April 15 with the exception of some holidays. The location is 6990 Dickman Rd., Apollo Beach. To read more about the viewing center, click here.

SCARE FAIR | Keiser University’s Lakeland Campus is hosting its annual Scare Fair tonight, welcoming families from the community for a fun-filled evening of Halloween excitement. The location is 2400 Interstate Drive, Lakeland, and the hours are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature kid-friendly spooky games, a Trunk or Treat with nearly 20 decorated cars, a food truck, prizes for the costume contest, and more.

WORLD SERIES WATCH PARTY | The city of Dunedin will host a Game 5 World Series watch party at 8 p.m. tonight at Pioneer Park. Refreshments and food will be available for purchase. Dunedin is home to the Dunedin Blue Jays, a minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, who are tied 2-2 with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fall classic. For more details, click here.

National Notes

Thursday, Oct. 30

President Trump meets Xi Jinping on sidelines of APEC summit
Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes advance GDP data for the third quarter of 2025, after final figures published last month said that real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 3.8% in Q2 2025, following annual contraction of 0.6% in Q1 2025
Suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting appears in a Provo, Utah court12pm Et
National Wicked Day, annual celebration of the Broadway musical ‘Wicked’, in honor of its debut at the Gershwin Theatre in New York 30 Oct 2003.
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report – Initial Claims

Global cuisine dominates at The Drake. (Spectrum News/Allison Walker)

In today’s Chef’s Kitchen, is a pair of dishes with global influence from a family-run business.

The Drake Kitchen + Bar is located in downtown Orlando. The chef and owner, Heberto Segura, started off his concept as a pop-up and food truck. He’s from the Dominican Republic. His wife, Chef Rona, grew up mainly in Mexico, yet they love influences of Asian cuisine.