A smattering of scattered storms popped up around the Tampa Bay area early Wednesday morning, but folks can expect a mostly clear sky with a lot of sunshine for most of the day. Rain could return in the late afternoon as the coastal breeze pushes developing storms inland off the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Weather Service.

As the sunshine spreads across Tampa Bay, the afternoon high is expected to reach 90 but humidity will drive up the heat index into the triple digits.

A mostly sunny sky could be interrupted by coastal storms pushed inland by the late afternoon and into the evening. Forecasters expect the chance of rain to be around 30-40 percent.

EXTENDED FORECAST: The 10-day outlook for the Tampa Bay area

Overnight temperatures will fall into the mid 70s with partly cloudy skies. Any lingering thunderstorms should dissipate by midnight.

Thursday will appear as much of the same, except a weak front will move into the area, increasing the prevalence of morning storms. But the majority of thunderstorms and scattered showers will be in the late afternoon to evening time as the hot air agitates the incoming coastal breeze, forecasters said.

Expect temperatures to climb to 91 with mostly clear skies and a 40 percent chance of rain.

The weekend looks very wet with the arrival of a cold front. The chance of rain will increase to around 60 percent with many of the storms moving over Tampa Bay in the afternoon.

Partly sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures in the upper 80s to the lower 90s. #flwx pic.twitter.com/UZge9C0AdO— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) August 22, 2018

Partly sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures in the upper 80s to the lower 90s. #flwx pic.twitter.com/UZge9C0AdO

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