Scattered showers and thunderstorms returned to the Bay area this afternoon and evening as an area of low pressure moved across the southern part of the state.

"The low exited the state near Fort Myers Friday evening," said Bay News 9 meterologist Diane Kacmarik.

It brought an northeast then easterly breeze to the Tampa Bay area. A line of showers and storms moved from the Atlantic side of the state into Polk County shortly after noon. 

The line quickly moved west and into the Gulf by late afternoon.

A few more storms developed in the evening around Tampa Bay. A funnel cloud was reported from Northwest Manatee County.

High temperatures in the Bay area were about 90 degrees.

According to the Bay News 9 Weather Experts, an area of low pressure moved across south Florida today and is expected to continue west through the Gulf.

There is shear and dry air now which will prevent development, but in a couple days conditions will improve slightly.

East-southeast winds will again get the storms started a little later in the day for Saturday.

Solar flares reached the earth midday Friday so the Aurora Borealis was seen in New England Friday evening, as far south as Boston. It was also seen in Alaska.