Severe Weather Threat Continues As Tornado Watch Expires

RUSKIN, FL — The National Weather Service has allowed a tornado watch for the entire Tampa Bay area to expire, but warns that doesn’t mean the region is out of the woods just yet.

There is “still the possibility of isolated severe storms across the Tampa Bay area and points south through the day as this line of storms moves south,” the agency warned on its Facebook page just after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The service issued a tornado watch early Wednesday morning for Pasco County and counties south. Just before 8 a.m. it extended the watch to include the entire Tampa Bay region. That watch expired at 10 a.m. Watches are issued when conditions are ripe for tornado formation, but that doesn’t mean twisters will materialize.

The weather service anticipates storms will continue throughout the day Wednesday with more chances heading into the early evening hours. Thursday is expected to be clear with a high in the low 60s.

Much cooler temperatures are expected heading into the weekend with near-freezing temperatures possible along the Nature Coast.

See Also:

• Florida Tornadoes Were No Freak Storms, Forecasters Warn
• Florida Tornadoes: What You Need to Know
• Severe Storms, Tornadoes in Tampa Bay’s Winter Forecast

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