Fog, rain today before midweek cold snap

Fog shrouds downtown Tampa this morning as members of the women's rowing team from the University of Michigan row up the channel between Davis Islands and Harbour Island. [Ken Helle | Times]
Pockets of thick fog have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a dense fog advisory for parts of the bay area this morning.

Motorists are encouraged to keep a safe distance between cars, drive slowly and use low-beam headlights.

The advisory is expected to be lifted about 9 a.m.

Bay News 9 forecasters say temperatures will reach the upper 70s today, with a 50 percent chance of rain. High temperatures will hover in the high 60s and low 70s Tuesday before a cold snap drops the mercury considerably.

Forecasters say temperatures will plummet by Wednesday and Thursday, with highs in the 50s and lows reaching into the 30s. Northern counties could see low temperatures in the 20s.

- Casey Cora, Times staff writer