Good evening, Tampa Bay. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

Friday morning will be cold again. Frost is possible north of Tampa Bay. Winds will be light.

Winds will shift from southeast to south, allowing warmer air to move in.

High temperatures will be around normal for this time of the year.

Friday night will be milder, before another cold front moves to the area this weekend.

Highs: 70

Lows: 58

Rain Coverage: 0%

Check your hour-by-hour forecast here | Share your weather photos

Today's Big Stories

1. 'Character, character, character': Carter eulogized by Biden at Washington funeral ahead of Georgia hometown burial
The nation’s capital said its final goodbye to Jimmy Carter, America’s longest-lived president, this morning with a formal funeral packed with pageantry at Washington National Cathedral.

2. Wildfire devastation: How to help fire victims
As major wildfires raged unchecked and destroyed hundreds of structures across SoCal, driven by the worst Santa Ana winds to hit the region in more than a decade, organizations and residents stepped up to the plate to help those affected.

3. Gasparilla 2025: A landlubber's list of what to expect
Shiver me timbers! Tampa Bay’s beloved tradition, the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, returns to invade Bayshore Boulevard and the downtown area on Jan. 25.

4. City Council meeting Thursday for first time since Rays reverse course on Trop fix
The St. Petersburg City Council is gathering today for the first time since the Tampa Bay Rays seemingly reversed course, telling the city in a letter they want Tropicana Field repaired in time for the 2026 season.

5. American Athletic Conference to honor late USF coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
The conference is permanently naming a postseason award in Abdur-Rahim’s honor.

6. Public urged to report invasive Asian swamp eel species in Florida
A number of agencies are reporting increased concern about the population growth of the invasive Asian swamp eel in Florida.

7. Runners gear up for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
The 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend kicked off this week. Races include the 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon.

 

Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

  • PASCO COLD SHELTERING EXTENDED | Pasco County is opening a Cold Weather Shelter tonight for those in need. Anyone needing a warm place to spend the night can head to the Shady Hills Mission Chapel. The shelter will close Friday at 10 a.m. For more information, call (727)-856-2948.
  • MAGIC VS. TIMBERWOLVES | Orlando Magic fans are on "Paolo Watch," starting with tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. at Kia Center. Banchero, who has been out since injuring an oblique in late October, is listed as "questionable" on the team's official injury report for tonight's game. If he doesn't return tonight, he could make his return in Friday's home game against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. or Sunday's 6 p.m. game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
  • ST. PETE SANDBAGS | The city of St. Petersburg has added extra days for residents to pick up sandbags during non-emergency times. Sandbags are available on the second Saturday of the month at the year-round sandbag distribution location at the Pavement and Traffic Operations Building (1744 9th Ave. N.) - with the next event being Saturday, Jan. 11, from 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Stay up to date on sandbag distribution hours and information on the city of St. Pete's website. 

        
           NATIONAL NOTES        

           Friday, Jan 10

  • 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Texas - a college football playoff semifinal 
  • U.S. Supreme Court hearing: 'TikTok v. Garland', 'Firebaugh v. Garland' (consolidated) (Whether the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, as applied by the petitioners, violates the First Amendment?) * Case concerns the ban of social media app TikTok, set to come into force 19 Jan, which requires the owner, Chinese internet company ByteDance, to either shut down or sell the app.
  • NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate researchers release annual assessments of global temperatures and discuss 'major climate trends of 2024.
  • SpaceX attempts seventh suborbital test launch of its prototype Starship vehicle and Super Heavy Booster, aiming for an on-target splashdown of Starship in the Indian Ocean.
  • Monthly employment report

ICYMI

Another Pinellas city sees instance of contradictory assessment letters

Municipalities up and down Tampa Bay's coast are still navigating the damage assessment process, and in some cases the wrong letter is being sent to homeowners.