TAMPA, Fla. — It wasn't the Friday most people across the Tampa Bay area were hoping for right before the weekend. Much of the region was drenched with storms as soon as the sun rose.
The result, as usual, was lots of rain. In some parts, record rain.
Estimates show much of the southern portion of the Tampa Bay region got the worst of the weather. Parts of Manatee and southern Pinellas counties received nearly four inches of rain by the end of the day. Sarasota County was just over five inches of rainfall.
In Tampa, a record was set. The area received a little more than three inches of rain. The second-highest recorded amount was nearly two and a half inches, but that happened in 1896.
However, there is a silver lining to all the soggy weather. Those storm clouds that rolled in on Friday were just making room for some perfect weather over the weekend.
By Saturday afternoon the rain will clear out and give way to cooler air rushing into the area through the second half of the weekend into early next week. Highs will be in the low 70s on Sunday.
