Tampa Bay is on the cusp of seeing 90 degrees daily. The average high in Tampa has been rising since reaching our coldest point of the year in late January.
What started off as a slow climb in our average temperature back in January has turned into an uphill sprint. By June 1, the average high temperature reaches 90 degrees in Tampa Bay.
Everything mentioned above is based on climatology. It's no secret that winters are cool and summers are hot. What is fascinating are the reasons behind Tampa's climatology as we transition into summer.
The spring months in Tampa Bay can result in large temperature swings. Some days may have temperatures in the 80s or 90s, while other days can have lows in the 40s and 50s.
These temperature swings result from cold fronts swinging through the Bay area.
As we get closer to May, the temperature swings aren't as impressive, and by June, July and August, the temperatures don't fluctuate all that much. We can thank the humid, tropical air mass for that one.
April has been quite warm for Tampa Bay this year, an average of 2.2 degrees above average.
When you break the data down further, you will find Tampa comes in pretty close to average so far regarding our daytime highs. It's the morning lows that have been skewing the numbers.
The official climate reporting station for Tampa sits at Tampa International Airport.
To be fair, this climate site has been running warmer compared to other data sites around Tampa Bay, especially at night. This is partly due to the urban heat island effect caused by the surrounding infrastructure.
Either way, the gauge at Tampa International has reported an average low of 66.2 degrees so far this month, which is about 3.2 degrees above average.
Putting all that aside, we're at the time of year when our average high temperature climbs faster than any time of the year.
Let's look at the average high for January and February. There isn't much variation, with the average high hovering around 72 degrees.
Fast forward to April 1 and the average high jumps to 80 degrees.
The trend will continue until we reach June, when the average high plateaus around 90-91 degrees.
Remember, averages are just that. Day-to-day weather can result in large variations.
While the average high in Tampa ranges from 80-86 degrees in April, it can get much hotter. The warmest April temperature on record for Tampa clocked in at 96 degrees.
This isn't far from the all-time record for Tampa, which holds at 99 degrees. That's right! Tampa has never officially reached 100 degrees since records began in 1890.
Being at the tail end of the dry season, along with the rising sun angle, is the main factor in the fast jump in temperatures this time of the year.
As the Northern Hemisphere warms, cold fronts become weaker and weaker, with fewer of them making it to Florida. This means Tampa Bay receives less relief from the cooler northern air.
Additionally, the tropical air mass hasn't fully recovered. Therefore, temperatures can swing up and down quickly in a dry air mass.
It also means the air mass is quite stable most of the time, with few storms to cool us down later in the day. April is one of the driest months of the year.
Once the rainy season begins, the tropical air mass keeps our temperatures quite steady. Additionally, the excess moisture creates clouds, and afternoon storms limit the heating through the day. This is partly why Tampa has never reached 100 degrees in recorded history.