Record heat triggered a strong line of thunderstorms across the Bay area near the end of the day Thursday that carried on into the night.

Thunderstorms erupted and lined up with the seabreeze around 5:30 p.m., predominately along the coastal counties in the Bay area. The storms continued from until around 10 p.m.

The storms brought heavy rain, lightning and hail. Dime-size hail was reported in Odessa and Trinity around 6 p.m.

Tampa and Bradenton set records for high temperatures. Tampa set a new record at 96 degrees and Bradenton saw a record of 95 degrees.

"Pinellas County is getting the best rain you've probably seen in 2 to 3 months, but I wouldn't be out in it," Bay News 9 Meteorologist Brian McClure said around 8 p.m.

Street flooding was reported in normal low lying areas of Pinellas County following a Flood Advisory. The advisory expired at 10 p.m.

Damage reports in the Holiday Mobile Home Park in North Port in Sarasota County are being investigated as coming from a possible tornado, but the National Weather Service declared Thursday night the damage was the result of "thunderstorm damage."

A funnel cloud was reported in the area. The NWS will review the damage on Friday and make a final determination. According to North Port officials, nearly one dozen structures were damaged in the mobile home park. No injuries have been reported.

Thursday Rainfall Totals

Hernando

Spring Hill 1.36

Weeki Wachee 0.84

 

Hillsborough

Citrus Park 0.39

Oldsmar 1.11

Tampa Int'l 0.19

Town N' Country 0.64

Westchase 1.19

 

Manatee

Bradenton 1.54

Sarasota/Bradenton Airport 0.58

 

Pinellas

Clearwater 0.16

Dunedin 1.29

Lake Tarpon 1.69

Largo 0.55

Safety Harbor 2.55

St. Petersburg Central 3.26

St. Petersburg North 1.26

Weekend Forecast

The warm and humid conditions across the Bay area on Thursday could stick around right through the Memorial Day weekend.

According to Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay, the next few days will feature warm mornings, partly sunny afternoons and increased rain chances in the evening. "We will experience warm, humid conditions during the holiday weekend,'' Clay said, "with rain chances going up by Memorial Day.''

High temperatures are expected to reach into the 90s during the next few days. Meanwhile, rain chances are 30 percent Thursday and Friday before jumping to as high as 50 percent on Memorial Day.

Tropical Outlook

An area of low pressure being monitored by the Bay News 9 Weather Experts for days is now developing rapidly in South Florida, but will have little impact on the Bay area's weather Thursday. According to Clay, “The area of low pressure is coming up from the Caribbean and rapidly developing over the Upper Florida Keys and into the Miami Metro area."

The system is producing sustained winds of nearly 30 mph in South Florida, he said, with gusts to tropical storm force offshore to the east of the center over the Atlantic waters. "Tropical development is possible over the next few days as the system moves northeast, away from Florida and over the Atlantic waters," Clay said.

MORE: US forecasters predict near-normal outlook for Atlantic hurricane season

The dry air circulating around the low in the Atlantic will drop rain chances Friday and "our winds become more northerly on Saturday, which should greatly limit our rain chances."

The system could begin to affect the Bay area on Sunday, as computer models forecast the low to be pushed back over Florida as a strong ridge of high pressure builds in to the north of the low. "If this happens, our rain chances could go up on Sunday and Memorial Day."

FRIDAY

Mostly Sunny. A Few PM Thunderstorms.

Chance of rain is 30%

Low 74

High 91
       
SATURDAY

Mostly Sunny. Slight Chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Chance of rain is 20%

Low 75

High 92
 
SUNDAY

Partly sunny.  A few showers or thunderstorms possible.

Chance of rain is 40%

Low 72

High 89

MEMORIAL DAY

Partly sunny. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Chance of rain is 50%