864 FXUS62 KTBW 110750 AFDTBW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 350 AM EDT Fri Apr 11 2025 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .DISCUSSION... Issued at 345 AM EDT Fri Apr 11 2025 Troughing aloft remains over the E U.S. this morning, while surface ridging ridges down the E Seaboard across the state into the Gulf south of a frontal boundary draped across the N Gulf states. The front will push across the state this evening and overnight, preceded by showers and storms, a few of which may be severe accompanied by a large hail and damaging wind gust threat. SPC continues to advertise a Marginal Risk across the Nature Coast, extending south across western Hernando and coastal Pasco counties to just north and west of Tampa Bay. While guidance does not indicate widespread coverage of showers and storms, it does continue to indicate an isolated severe potential with what convection that does manage to develop. Timing continues to favor late afternoon through early to mid evening for the greatest threat across the northern Nature Coast, and late evening into the early overnight hours further south across areas closer to WCFL. The storm threat looks to diminish south of the I-4 corridor although some showers may persist into the interior and SWFL later into the night before diminishing. Breezy westerly winds are likely to develop this afternoon across much of the area preceding the front, with an elevated fire potential likely over the interior, and Red Flag Warning in effect for Polk County this afternoon into early evening. Warm conditions expected with highs in the lower to mid 80s. High pressure builds into the region on Saturday as the front departs, with cooler and drier air filtering into the state under mostly sunny skies and continued occasionally breezy conditions particularly during the afternoon. Highs generally 5-8 degrees cooler are expected, mainly in the mid to upper 70s. High Risk of rip currents expected at area beaches on Saturday, while the elevated fire risk is likely to persist away from the coast during the afternoon. Lighter winds expected on Sunday should allow for improving beach conditions and reduced fire concerns, with a warming trend ensuing as high pressure settles over the SE U.S. through early next week. Generally quiet weather conditions expected through the week as temps warm into the mid to upper 80s, with a dry front around mid week being the only item of note for now. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 145 AM EDT Fri Apr 11 2025 Generally VFR expected through the period. A cold front dropping south across the peninsula late Friday evening into overnight will bring a slight chance of showers and a storm with associated brief restriction chances, and have addressed with PROB30 group for TPA/PIE/LAL/SRQ between 12/02-06Z. Omitted mention for southern terminals due to even lower confidence on impactful conditions spreading that far south given the diminishing convective trend with southward progression. Otherwise expect increasing westerly winds into afternoon with higher gusts, slightly diminishing late evening into overnight for most terminals. && .MARINE... Issued at 345 AM EDT Fri Apr 11 2025 A cold front moving across the waters this evening and overnight will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms, with winds increasing to exercise caution levels tonight and remaining elevated through Saturday before subsiding into Sunday. Showers and storms diminish by Saturday morning with dry conditions expected into mid week. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 345 AM EDT Fri Apr 11 2025 A cold front will push across the peninsula this evening through tonight bringing a few showers and storms mainly to northern and central parts of the forecast area. Breezy westerly winds ahead of the front this afternoon coupled with relative humidities dropping to around 30 percent and a moderate significant fire potential have led to the issuance of a Red Flag Warning for Polk County, effective this afternoon into early evening. Cooler and drier air moving into the area behind the front along with lingering elevated winds will lead to continued elevated fire potential again on Saturday afternoon. Winds diminish on Sunday, slightly alleviating overall fire concerns, however critical minimum RHs during the afternoons will persist into next week along with moderate significant fire potential. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 81 63 75 59 / 0 30 0 0 FMY 84 63 80 57 / 0 10 0 0 GIF 85 58 77 54 / 0 20 0 0 SRQ 80 64 76 59 / 0 40 0 0 BKV 81 53 74 49 / 10 30 0 0 SPG 78 66 73 62 / 0 30 0 0 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...High Rip Current Risk from late tonight through late Saturday night for Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Lee-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-Pinellas. Red Flag Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 7 PM EDT this evening for Polk. Gulf waters...None. && $$ Hurt