FXUS62 KTBW 201649 AFDTBW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 1249 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Gusty northeast winds to Exercise Caution over the southeast Gulf waters today. - Critically low relative humidity values over the Nature Coast and interior through the weekend. - Warming trend continues into the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 215 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 We have finally made it through Winter and Spring starts today. It will be a perfect start to Spring with plentiful sunshine and warming temperatures through the forecast period. Upper level troughing extends southward through the western Atlantic, across Florida and into the eastern Gulf. This pattern will linger over the region for today, then finally shifting farther eastward into the Atlantic by Saturday morning. On the surface, a lingering stationary frontal boundary remains stretched across the eastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba. Farther northward over the Carolinas, a 1024 MB high pressure center ridges southwest through the southeast U.S., across northern Florida and into the north central Gulf. Interaction between this high pressure and the stationary boundary to the southeast is producing some gusty northeast winds over the region for today. This pattern will hold until Saturday morning when another 1021 MB high pressure center sets up over the central Gulf. This high pressure will dominate the weather through the weekend and into the first of next week with continued rain-free conditions and warming temperatures. On Monday, the ridge shifts slightly southward as a frontal boundary moves into the region from the north. This front will bring a slight chance of showers for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Temperatures on Friday and Saturday will be right around average with daytime highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, then further warming into the low to mid 80s on Sunday and into next week. Overnight lows will be on the cool side the next couple of nights dipping into the 40s and 50s, then reaching the 50s and 60s starting Saturday night and continuing into next week. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1243 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 VFR conditions will prevail through the remainder of the day as high pressure settles in. Some patchy fog may develop overnight mostly in interior areas, but forecast confidence in overall coverage is low at this time. Breezy NE winds will gradually subside through this evening with winds falling to 5 kts or less overnight. && .MARINE... Issued at 215 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Interaction between a stationary frontal boundary southeast of Florida and high pressure to the north will keep a tight pressure gradient over the region producing some gusty northeast winds to Exercise Caution level over the southeast Gulf waters today. Improving conditions expected over the weekend and into the first of next week as high pressure sets up over the central Gulf waters. Rain-free conditions expected through the forecast period. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 215 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 A relatively dry air mass will remain over the region for the next few days, with relative humidity values dropping to critical levels for the Nature Coast this afternoon and over parts of the interior over the weekend. However, no Red Flag issues are expected as sustained 20 foot winds remain less than 15 mph and the Significant Fire Potential is low. Some high dispersions are expected this afternoon. Some patchy fog possible during the early morning hours over the weekend. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 55 79 59 81 / 0 0 0 0 FMY 55 83 57 84 / 0 0 0 0 GIF 52 83 54 85 / 0 0 0 0 SRQ 55 78 57 79 / 0 0 0 0 BKV 45 80 50 81 / 0 0 0 0 SPG 60 80 63 81 / 0 0 0 0 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...Giarratana DECISION SUPPORT...Hubbard UPPER AIR/CLIMATE...Hubbard