2023 Tampa Bay Climate Guide for Visitors and Residents
The Tampa Bay area has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters.
Summers in the area are usually sunny, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) in July and August. Temperatures rarely fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) during the winter months.
The Tampa Bay area enjoys a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. In the hot season, which lasts 4.9 months, the daily high temperature typically exceeds 86°F (30°C). The average high temperature in Tampa during July is 90°F (32°C), and the average low temperature is 76°F (24°C). Temperatures are typically below 74°F (23°C) between Dec. 8 and Feb. 27 during the cool season. The coldest month in Tampa is January when temperatures average 52°F (11°C) and 71°F. (21°C). There are also frequent heat waves that can last for several days in Tampa. According to a USA Facts report, the frequency of heat waves in Tampa has increased by 92 days over the past two years. In addition, forecasters predict a hotter-than-average summer for the area. However, visitors and new residents who flock to the region for the sun, sand, and sea may not be accustomed to the high temperatures. Here are some tips from medical experts on how to stay cool in the heat.
Are Tampa Bay’s temperatures rising due to climate change? We asked the experts.
As a result of climate change, urbanization and population growth, Tampa Bay’s National Weather Service (NWS) reports that temperatures are increasing. Although the Tampa area regularly experiences heat indexes (what temperatures feel like with humidity factored in) that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, the city has not experienced a 100-degree temperature reading. The effects of climate change, population growth and urban heating may change this.
“Urbanization has an impact on climate and this can be seen in climatological records in many locations around the world, including right here in West Central and Southwest Florida. However, this does not make data collected by sensors in increasingly urban areas invalid. In fact, these changes are important to capture in climatological records to better understand our changing climate and how those changes impact the most densely urban areas,” said Paul Close, a meteorologist at Tampa Bay’s NWS, in a statement to Tampa Bay Living Magazine. “On average, urbanized areas of West Central and Southwest Florida have seen an increase of 2.5° to 3.0°F over the last century.”
To combat climate change in the region, the City of Tampa and the CLEO Institute recently released a Climate & Equity Plan.
Tampa and St. Pete are known as the “Lightning Capitals” of America.
“Lighting Capitals” of America
The Tampa Bay region is prone to thunderstorms and frequent lightning, and both cities are now famous for being the “Lightning Capitals” of America.
Lightning can strike anywhere, anytime, and cause severe injury or even death. According to the NWS, lightning kills an average of 10 people in the United States annually and injures hundreds more.
In addition to the immediate danger posed by a lightning strike, it can also cause long-term damage. Lightning can start fires, damage buildings and knock out power lines, causing widespread power outages for days.
So, what can people do to stay safe during a thunderstorm?
According to the NWS, an appropriate shelter has electricity and plumbing or one with a metal roof and closed windows. Small buildings without plumbing or electricity, such as picnic shelters and dugouts, are unsafe. Lightning can enter structures in three ways: through direct strikes, wires or pipes extending outside the structure or through the ground. Lightning can travel through electrical, phone, plumbing, and radio/television systems as lightning enters a structure. As well as traveling through concrete walls and flooring, lightning can also travel through metal wires or bars. Here are expert tips from the NWS to keep your home, your pets and yourself safe:
Avoid using corded telephones. Cellular or cordless phones can be used.
Ensure you are not touching electrical equipment, such as computers, TVs or cords. Remote controls are safe to use.
Avoid using plumbing. Avoid washing your hands, taking a shower or washing dishes.
Avoid exterior doors and windows with metal components that lead to the interior of your home.
Avoid balconies, porches and open garages and carports.
Avoid lying on concrete floors or leaning against concrete walls.
Make sure your pets are protected. Dog houses are not safe shelters. There is a particular risk of lightning strikes for dogs chained to trees or on metal runners.
A lightning strike can cause electric surges that damage electronic equipment far from the point of impact. Surge protectors are not designed to protect equipment from lightning strikes. It is advisable to avoid unplugging equipment during a thunderstorm to avoid being struck.
It’s also important to know the signs of an approaching storm. Darkening skies, strong winds and distant thunder are signs of a storm approaching. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning, so seek shelter immediately.
Waterspouts and tornadoes are common in the Tampa Bay region.
Tampa and St. Pete “Tornado Alley”
Tampa and St. Pete are located in a region known as “Tornado Alley,” a swath of the southeastern U.S. prone to tornadoes. Tornadoes and waterspouts in the Tampa area are typically associated with hurricanes or severe thunderstorms.
How dangerous is a tornado warning compared to a tornado watch?
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a tornado warning is more severe than a tornado watch. A tornado warning indicates an imminent threat and that a tornado has been spotted or is imminent. Tornado watches indicate tornadoes are possible in a given area. Find out how your community warns. Outdoor sirens are present in some communities, although rare in Tampa Bay. Media often provide tornado warnings and alerts via smartphones. You can sign up for weather alert notifications here.
Some areas in Florida have tornado sirens. However, sirens are rare in the Tampa Bay region.
Waterspout off of Bayshore in #Tampa this Saturday PM. Thanks Daniel Mack. Diane Kacmarik @BN9 pic.twitter.com/W8TmEDtj4Q
— Spectrum Bay News 9 Weather (@bn9weather) July 16, 2022
Is climate change increasing tornado frequency and severity in the Tampa Bay region?
According to Tampa Bay NWS Meteorologist Paul Close, while tornado frequency and intensity haven’t changed in the Tampa Bay area, reports of tornadoes have increased with urbanization and population growth. The peak months for tornadoes are in late spring and summer when the region’s typical thunderstorm season is in full swing. However, tornadoes in this region are typically weak and short-lived, ranging from EF0 to EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which measures tornado intensity based on winds and damage.
“We tend to see the stronger longer-lived tornadoes occur during the winter months, and especially when the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is in the El Niño phase,” said Close in a statement to Tampa Bay Living Magazine. “During the winter months of an El Niño, a strong and amplified Pacific jet stream extends across the southern U.S., which favors storm systems moving across the southern U.S., bringing above normal precipitation and more strong to severe thunderstorms to the Florida peninsula.”
Close says preparation is vital to staying safe and minimizing impacts from a tornado. The NWS offers various steps residents and visitors can take to prepare for a tornado before a warning is issued:
Monitor the forecast by watching local news or listening to NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings. Weather-Ready Nation has tips to help residents and visitors stay prepared.
Have a family communication plan, including a meeting place in an emergency.
For people who live in a mobile home or a home without a basement, identify a nearby safe building, such as a church or family member’s home.
The safest place in a home would be the basement, a storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor without any windows.
Practicing tornado safety plans regularly.
Consider strengthening safe rooms within the home. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides plans for strengthening interior rooms to provide better protection.
Help loved ones prepare for tornadoes by encouraging them to take necessary precautions. Learn CPR to assist in the event of a tornado emergency.
Hurricane Seasons starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
Hurricane Season
Hurricane season in Tampa and St. Pete runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the season’s peak typically occurring in September. During this time, the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean can fuel the development of tropical storms and hurricanes that can threaten the Tampa Bay area. Weather experts say the Tampa Bay region is highly vulnerable to the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes due to topography and Tampa’s location on the Gulf of Mexico.
“The Tampa Bay region is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is a shallow bay with waterways emptying into it, which makes the region a prime spot for storm surge,” said Sarah Dillingham, senior meteorologist at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. “Tampa also has homes and businesses located in low-elevation zones vulnerable to that storm surge, leaving them at risk of seeing significant damage during a tropical event.”
Hurricane Categories
Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, with Category 1 being the least severe and Category 5 being the most powerful. While Tampa has not experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane since 1921, yearly storms can still cause significant damage and disruption to the area, even from a distance. Learn more about the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale here.
Tampa has not experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane since 1921, so preparation for a direct impact is essential.
Preparation and Safety
Residents and visitors of Tampa and St. Pete need to be prepared for the impacts of hurricanes. These preparations include having a plan for evacuation or sheltering, stocking up on essential supplies, such as food and water, and ensuring homes or businesses are secure.
If a hurricane approaches the Tampa Bay area, monitor Tampa and St. Pete weather forecasts and heed any evacuation orders issued by officials—secure outdoor furniture and other items that could become airborne in high winds. Check out Tampa Bay Living Magazine’s article on hurricane safety with preparation and safety tips.
After a Hurricane
Once a hurricane passes, avoid downed power lines or flooded roads. It may take time for power and other services to be restored, so be patient and plan to deal with any potential disruptions.
Frequent flooding wreaks havoc in Tampa and St. Pete.
Frequent Thunderstorms and Flooding
Tampa and St. Pete are prone to flooding due to their location on the Gulf of Mexico and low-lying topography.
“More flooding tends to be a result of the urbanization of the region with more roads and paved areas there is less places for the rain waters to go. Sometimes floods develop slowly, and forecasters can anticipate where a flood will happen days or weeks before it occurs. Often, flash floods can occur within minutes,” said Paul Close, a meteorologist at Tampa Bay’s NWS.
Flooding in Tampa and St. Pete
Coastal flooding occurs often in Tampa and St. Pete, particularly during hurricane season. Storm surge, or the rise in sea level caused by a hurricane or tropical storm, inundates coastal areas and causes damage to homes and infrastructure.
Tampa is also vulnerable to inland flooding. The city’s flat topography causes rainwater to accumulate and overwhelm drainage systems, leading to street flooding and property damage.
Preparing for Flooding
Residents and businesses in Tampa and St. Pete should take steps to prepare for the impacts of flooding. These preparations include ensuring property is adequately insured against flood damage, having a plan for evacuation or sheltering during a flood event, and ensuring homes or businesses are equipped with flood protection measures, such as sandbags or flood barriers.
During a Flood Event
If flooding is imminent, monitor Tampa and St. Pete weather forecasts and heed any evacuation orders issued by public officials. Protecting property, such as moving valuable items to higher ground and turning off electricity and gas if flooding is expected, is essential before disaster strikes.
After a Flood
Once a flood event is over, avoid downed power lines or contaminated floodwater. Document any damage to property and contact insurance providers as soon as possible.
A thunderstorm towers above Tampa Bay.