The National Weather Service says a strong cold front will move through the area this weekend. A freeze is possible Saturday night in extreme northern areas of Pinellas County.
Break out the long sleeves and jackets, a taste of winter is forecast for Tampa Bay Saturday and Sunday.
The latest forecast calls for daytime highs of only 64 degrees Saturday and an even colder 57 degrees on Sunday. Nighttime lows are expected to reach the low 40s with a chance of a freeze in northern Pinellas.
But, the wind will make it feel colder. On Saturday, expect to wake up to northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 18 to 23 mph by afternoon. Wind gusts could be as high as 32 mph. Wind chill values could go as low as 35 degrees Saturday night.
The wind will continue on Sunday coming from the north at 10 to 17 mph with gusts as high as 24 mph. Conditions will begin to ease overnight with wind speeds decreasing to 5 to 9 mph and switching directions to blow in from the east after midnight.
Highs are forecast to climb back up to near 70 degrees on Monday.
Mariners are advised to be aware of hazardous conditions offshore. Saturday’s marine forecast calls for north winds of 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest at 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas will build to 3 to 5 feet. Saturday night, northwest winds of 25 knots with gusts to 35 knots are expected, switching to the north at 20 to 25 knots after midnight. Seas of 9 to 11 feet are expected.
On Sunday, winds will begin to diminish down to 10 to 15 knots by afternoon with seas of 6 to 10 feet. Sunday night, expect northeast winds of 10 to 15 knots becoming east at around 20 knots after midnight with seas of 3 to 5 feet.
Cold weather shelters opening
Cold night shelters for Pinellas County’s homeless will be open on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17.
Shelters are scheduled to open about 6 p.m. and will accept guests all night long. Shelters close the next day at about 6 a.m. Shelter guests are provided a hot evening meal, a warm safe place to spend the night and breakfast the following morning.
Adult Men and Women
- Clearwater Primary Shelter: Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church, 110 S. Ft. Harrison Ave.; capacity 75. Church Phone: 727-442-3677.
- Clearwater Back-up Shelter: St. Cecelia Catholic Church, 820 Jasmine Way; capacity 40. Church Phone: 727-447-3494
- Pinellas Park: Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast in Pinellas Park, 7790 61st St. N.; capacity, 250. Phone: 727-574-5437. Transportation to and from this shelter and downtown St. Petersburg St. Vincent DePaul will be provided by Boley Inc.
- St. Petersburg: Northwest Presbyterian Church, 6330 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg; capacity 75. Church phone: 727-544-4551.
- St. Petersburg: Salvation Army, 1400 Fourth St. S., capacity 25. Phone: 727-822-4954
- St. Petersburg: The Turning Point, 1810 Fifth Ave. N.; capacity, 25. Phone: 727-823-7811
- Tarpon Springs: St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 812 E. Tarpon Ave.; capacity 45. Phone: 727-479-2914
Families
Families with children will be placed in motels on cold nights. Call one of the following family coordinators to make arrangements:
- Clearwater: Chris Bowers, 727-251-6691 or Dan Mettee, 727-798-0035
- St Petersburg/Pinellas Park: Jim Leiby, 727-433-2115
- Tarpon Springs: Mary Delasin, 727-479-2914
- Tampa Bay Cares: 2-1-1 (select option 3, then option 3 again)
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