Tropical Storm Sandy May Bring Breezy, Cooler Weather to Bloomingdale-Riverview

The formation of a tropical storm south of Florida isn’t typically good news for the Tampa Bay area.

In Tropical Storm Sandy’s case, however, forecasters at the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office say the Bloomingdale-Riverview area might be in for some positive impacts. The storm, currently south of Jamaica, may bring breezy conditions to the Bay area this weekend.

While some rain, “rough boating conditions” and a slight increase in temperatures are also possible over the weekend, meteorologist Jon Jelsema says what’s in store next week is worth waiting for.

If Sandy stays on her current path, she’ll cross Jamaica and Cuba as a hurricane and then pass by the Bahamas and eastern Florida Friday and over the weekend as a tropical storm once more.

The storm’s passing is anticipated to help “buckle the jet stream to dive much farther south than it typically would this time of year,” Jelsema said. “It will cool off next week. We’re probably looking at temperatures in the upper 70s for early next week; it could be lower.”

The cooling trend is expected to kick in during the “tail end of the weekend and into the following week,” bringing lower humidity with it, as well.

It’s even possible we’ll see the “first night of the year in downtown Tampa (with) temperatures that could drop below the 60-degree mark,” Jelsema said.

Nothing Is Certain Just Yet

While forecasters are predicting that Tropical Storm Sandy will pass nicely to the east of Florida, Jelsema warns that nothing is etched in stone – especially when it comes to tropical weather.

“We want to encourage everyone to remain vigilant,” he said. “All indications are it’s going to continue track well to the east of western Florida.”

Even so, “sometimes these systems can be … interesting.”

For a complete look at the Bloomingdale-Riverview weather forecast, visit the National Weather Service online. To find out more about hurricane preparedness, take a look at our Hurricane Guide.