Clearwater Lifeguard vehicle. (File Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
A coastal storm forecast to move through the region Wednesday has prompted the National Weather Service to issue advisories on high winds and rip currents as hundreds of thousands of visitors look to be denied a beach day in the high season.
The NWS office in Ruskin issued a wind advisory for Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Southwest winds 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts up to 50 m.p.h. were expected, the advisory said.
“Gusty southwest winds will setup out ahead of the line of showers and thunderstorms that will be moving across the region during Wednesday,” it said. “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”
A rip current advisory was in effect until Friday at 8 p.m.
“Dangerous” rip currents were expected, the advisory notice said, adding that breezy southerly winds Wednesday will shift to west to northwest Wednesday night and continue through Friday.
“Swim near a lifeguard,” the advisory said. “If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.”
The forecast calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning and midday, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. The high near 80. Rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch are possible.
Showers and thunderstorms were likely to continue into the evening hours, mainly before 8 p.m., the NWS said. Otherwise, it will be mostly cloudy overnight, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 63. Another quarter to half-inch of rain is possible.
Mostly sunny skies will return Thursday with a high of 74 degrees. It will still be breezy, however, with west-northwest wind 10 to 14 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 20 m.p.h.
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