Springtime temps dip before returning to normal

The arrival of spring has temperatures across the Tampa Bay area taking a quick dip before returning to normal by midweek, forecasters say.

Gusty winds will accompany today's high temperature of 70 degrees before a cool evening gives way to a chilly Tuesday morning. Temperatures are expected in the mid 40s early, but parts of northern Pinellas County along with areas north and east of Tampa could see temperatures hit the upper 30s, said Bay News 9 meteorologist Josh Linker.

Freeze warnings don't appear likely, although Linker said pockets of Citrus County could see some frosting. Chilly as it may feel, no low-temperature records are in jeopardy.

"Even though it's cold, it's not as cold as it could be," Linker said. "The thing that will prevent us being too outrageously cold is that it's late March."

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer