The workweek stays mild and dry across the Suncoast, with lows in the low to mid-60s and highs in the low 80s, but the weekend forecast has some bite. High pressure over the Southeast, Midwest and Ohio Valley is pressing against a developing low pressure system, creating a tight pressure gradient that will increase winds starting Saturday. Boating advisories are not in effect yet, but ABC7 Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan expects them to begin Saturday and continue through Sunday and into Monday.
Sunday is the windiest day on the board, with gusts up to 38 mph. Northeast winds of 10 to 15 knots in the morning will build to around 20 knots by afternoon, and seas will run 2 to 3 feet, so bays and passes will get choppy. Rain chances rise only slightly to 20% Saturday and Sunday, meaning this is a wind story rather than a rainmaker. If your weekend includes the beach, make sure umbrellas and canopies are secured before the gusts arrive.
The week ahead stays quiet otherwise. A system with a 40% chance of becoming Subtropical Storm Josephine is being monitored, but it would not impact our area. Boaters should check advisories before heading out, and beachgoers should keep an eye on conditions as Sunday approaches. Are you shifting your weekend plans because of the wind, or riding it out?
