It Didn't Hit Freezing, But Tampa Area Berry Growers Wary

Nervous berry growers in the Tampa area caught a break this morning as temperatures over inland areas remained above freezing.

Growers hustled workers into the fields just after dawn today to harvest as many berries as possible before the expected arrival of colder weather tonight and a dose of still-colder weather Saturday morning.

Temperature readings around Hillsborough County show the thermometer hit bottom a shade above freezing. A weather station in Dover registered a low of 35, and temperatures in Balm hit 37.

Vandenberg Airport had 34, and some home weather observers reported the same temperature around Valrico, the National Weather Service said.

The low was 44 at Tampa International Airport and 50 at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. The airport in Lakeland had a low of 39.

Brooksville, in Hernando County, was among the area spots that reached below freezing with a low of 28.

It's also looking as if the temperatures Friday and Saturday mornings may not be as bitter as forecasters predicted Wednesday. Later today, the weather service may drop the freeze watch in place for tonight and Friday morning over Hillsborough County.

The weather service this morning dropped its frost advisory for tonight.

Forecasters are watching how thick cloud cover gets today. Some clouds are expected to move over West Central Florida today. While the clouds may keep daytime high temperatures down a bit, they also may prevent the night from getting as cold.

Clouds trap heat radiating from the ground and keep the air a bit warmer than under clear skies.

Forecasters still expect temperatures close to freezing in Hillsborough, mainly east of Interstate 75. If clouds are heavier than expected, temperatures may not drop as much, forecasters said.

There's a chance of freezing temperatures in east Pasco County and a freeze watch is still in place for Hernando, where the weather service says Friday morning could be in the high 20s.

A cold front will come through during the day and bring another shot of cold air. It also will kick up a slight wind of about 7 to 10 mph tonight. That means even without a freeze, the wind chill Friday morning could make it feel below freezing.

Forecasts still call for Saturday morning to be the coldest for counties north of Hillsborough, with lows a degree or so below Friday morning.