Warm today, but rain and cooler weather ahead

ST. PETERSBURG -- We're off to another warm start in the Tampa Bay area this week, but forecasters predict that by Wednesday our steady stream of pleasant weather may be upset by rain.

This morning, patchy fog hovered over St. Petersburg and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service issued a fog advisory until 9 a.m.

Today's forecast high is 76 degrees in St. Petersburg and 78 in Tampa, with sunny skies and patches of fog.

Tonight, temperatures could drop to 65 degrees in St. Petersburg, 64 in Tampa. Tuesday is expected to bring mostly sunny skies and a high near 75 degrees.

Winds also will noticeably increase, with gusts up to 25 mph, forecasters say. There's a chance of rain late Tuesday into Wednesday. Wednesday morning will see a 40 percent chance of rain, with high wind gusts.

Up to a quarter-inch of rain is possible, forecasters say. After Wednesday, the week looks dry, with slightly cooler weather in the low 70s.

Luis Perez, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[Jo]

Our weather now is unseasonably warm and the idea that it will be "upset" by rain and cooler weather is a dumb thing to say. We need rain and lots of it. We need our cooler "winter" weather.