MacDill 48 Park (City of Tampa)
TAMPA, Fla. – Residents waking up to gifts under the tree this morning are getting an extra present from Mother Nature: a picture-perfect Christmas forecast that feels more like spring than winter.
According to the National Weather Service, Christmas Day in the Tampa Bay area will be sunny with a high near 79 degrees. Winds will remain calm before shifting slightly from the west-northwest at a gentle 5 to 7 mph this afternoon. It’s ideal weather for anyone planning to test out a new bicycle or fire up the grill for a holiday dinner.
The comfortable conditions are set to stick around well past the holiday, accordign to the National Weather Service.
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Friday and Saturday will offer nearly identical conditions, with highs hovering between 77 and 78 degrees and plenty of sunshine. Overnight lows will dip comfortably into the upper 50s, making for pleasant evenings.
Sunday keeps the streak alive with mostly sunny skies and a high near 79, capping off what looks to be a stunning holiday weekend.
However, the warm spell has an expiration date.
Changes begin to creep into the forecast on Monday. While the day starts mostly sunny with a high of 78, clouds will gather by evening. A 20 percent chance of showers Monday night signals the arrival of a significant front.
Once the rain clears, temperatures are expected to plummet. Tuesday’s high will struggle to reach 64 degrees—a sharp 14-degree drop from the day prior. By Tuesday night, residents will likely need to dig out their heavy coats, as the low is forecast to drop to a chilly 41 degrees.
Wednesday will see the sun return, but the warmth will not; highs are expected to remain cool, topping out near 63.
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