After a rainy couple of days, the weather will be much drier for Thanksgiving. 

"We will see mostly sunny skies with just some patchy clouds moving through. High temperatures will be below average, only reaching the mid to upper 60s," said Bay News 9 Meteorologist Brian McClure. "It will be another breezy day with winds from the north."

The drying trend comes after two days of heavy rainfall around the Bay area. Some parts of Hillsborough County reported more than seven inches of rain, while some Pasco communities reportedly received more than six inches of rain.

All that rainfall has caused local rivers to rise, with many of them forecast to rise above flood stage over the next several hours. As a result, forecasters have issued a flood warning.

The flood warning is in effect for the following rivers:

  • Alafia River at Lithia until late Wednesday night
    The river is expected to rise above flood stage by Wednesday afternoon. The flooding could affect roads downstream of State Road 640.
  • Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills through Monday morning
    The river is expected to rise above flood stage by Thursday afternoon and to continue to rise until Friday evening.  If the river cotninues to rise, Hillsborough River State Park will be closed, and lowland flooding is expected near Branchton and State Road 579.
  • Cypress Creek at Worthington Gardens until further notice.
    The creek is forecast to rise above flood stage by Thursday evening and to continue to rise until Monday morning.
  • Little Manatee River at Wimauma through late Friday night
    The river is expected to rise above flood stage by Wednesday afternoon, and to possibly flood the canoe rental area and to overflow the river banks.
  • Anclote River at Elfers through Thursday evening
    The river is expected to rise above flood stage after midnight and to continue to rise.

A flood warning has been canceled for the Manatee River near Myakka Head.

Conditions will remain cooler overnight, dipping into the upper 40s.

Skies will be sunny on Thanksgiving Day with dry conditions and high temperatures in the mid 60s.

Thursday night into Friday will be even colder.

48-hour rainfall totals as of 11 a.m.

Citrus

  • Chassahowitzka 4.68
  • Citrus Springs 4.49
  • Inverness 3.77
  • Crystal River 3.29

Hernando

  • Ridge Manor 6.23
  • Weeki Wachee 5.99
  • Brooksville 5.56
  • Hernando Beach 5.15

Hillsborough

  • Blackwater Creek 7.17
  • Plant City 5.76
  • Bloomingdale 4.98
  • Valrico 4.98
  • Lutz 4.81
  • University West 4.78
  • Carrollwood 4.61
  • Temple Terrace 4.19
  • Brandon 3.79
  • Tampa Airport 3.78
  • Riverview 3.49
  • Sun City Center 3.30
  • Apollo Beach 2.99
  • Ruskin 2.62

Manatee

  • Ellenton 3.48
  • Bradenton 3.15
  • Desoto Lakes 2.28
  • Lake Manatee SP 2.11

Pasco

  • Zephyrhills 6.71
  • Dade City 6.47
  • Land O’ Lakes 6.31
  • Darby 4.96
  • Port Richey 4.50
  • Holiday 4.46

Pinellas

  • Tarpon Springs 4.39
  • Palm Harbor 4.26
  • Dunedin 4.15
  • Clearwater 3.45
  • Largo 3.40
  • St. Petersburg 2.72
  • Kenneth City 2.58
  • Pinellas Park 2.50
  • St. Petersburg Albert Whitted Airport 2.37
  • Treasure Island 2.27
  • St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport 2.24

Polk

  • Polk City 5.92
  • Lakeland 5.41
  • Auburndale 5.17
  • Gibsonia 3.74
  • Lakeland Highlands 2.81
  • Lake Wales 2.09