FXUS62 KTBW 210644 AFDTBW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 244 AM EDT Sat Mar 21 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... - Critically low relative humidity values over the interior through the weekend. - Warming trend continues through the weekend and into next week. - Next chance of rain is on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 242 AM EDT Sat Mar 21 2026 Upper level troughing has slipped farther eastward into the western Atlantic, while upper ridging and surface high pressure sets up over the central Gulf. This high pressure will broaden over the weekend extending east to west from the Bahamas to the southeast coast of Texas. Pleasant weather with sunny skies and warming temperatures will persist through the weekend and into the first of next week. On Tuesday, 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. After a cool start on Saturday morning, the overnight lows will be a bit more on the mild side dipping into the 50s and 60s starting Saturday night and continuing into next week. Daytime highs will reach the upper 70s to mid 80s through Monday, then possibly reaching the upper 80s to around 90 over some of the interior locations from Tuesday through the end of next week. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 242 AM EDT Sat Mar 21 2026 VFR and rain-free conditions with winds 10 knots or less will persist through the forecast period. && .MARINE... Issued at 242 AM EDT Sat Mar 21 2026 High pressure will set up over Florida and the eastern Gulf waters through the weekend producing pleasant weather conditions over the eastern Gulf waters. Winds will remain below 15 knots and seas 2 feet or less through the weekend and into next week. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 242 AM EDT Sat Mar 21 2026 High pressure sets up over the area with rain-free conditions and warming conditions through the weekend and into the first part of next week. A relatively dry air mass will remain over the region for the next few days, with relative humidity values dropping to critical levels 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 patchy fog possible during the early morning hours over the weekend. The next chance of rain will come on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, but will remain on the low side. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 79 59 81 61 / 0 0 0 0 FMY 82 57 84 57 / 0 0 0 0 GIF 82 55 86 57 / 0 0 0 0 SRQ 78 57 79 59 / 0 0 0 0 BKV 80 50 81 53 / 0 0 0 0 SPG 80 63 81 64 / 0 0 0 0 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...Wynn DECISION SUPPORT/CLIMATE...Fleming