Small Craft Advisories remain in effect along the Suncoast through Wednesday evening, and the breeze is the reason. Northeast winds are forecast at 20 to 25 knots with gusts near 30, driving offshore seas of 3 to 5 feet and the occasional 6-footer. Tides are running below normal as well, which is worth noting for anyone navigating the passes or the shallower water around Sarasota Bay.
Beachgoers get a much friendlier forecast, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s. That said, a moderate rip current risk is in place at Siesta Key, Longboat Key, and Venice. Calm-looking surf with an offshore wind can still pull, so stick near a lifeguard stand and know how to swim parallel to shore if you feel the current take you.
The pattern shifts Thursday and Friday as Atlantic moisture moves over Florida. Rain chances rise to 30 to 40 percent inland while coastal communities stay near 20 percent, and highs stay in the mid-80s through Saturday with a few afternoon storms possible east of I-75. No tropical threat is expected for the Suncoast over the next five days, though hurricane season continues through November 30. Are you planning to get on the water this week, or waiting for the wind to lay down?
