Good evening, Tampa Bay. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

Bundle up if you plan to head to the Children's Gasparilla Parade in Tampa. Temperatures will primarily be in the 50s through the afternoon with lots of clouds and occasional showers around. 

Breezy north winds will persist through the day resulting in temperatures falling through the evening. Cold weather will stick around for a few days. In fact, some areas could approach lows near freezing early Monday with a possible frost

Before you head out the door, get updates from Klystron 9.

 

 

 

Highs: 50s

Lows: 30s & 40s

Rain Coverage: 40%

Check your hour-by-hour forecast here | Share your weather photos

Be sure to have your winter attire nearby as temperatures remain well below average through the entire weekend. A cold front will be south of the area on Saturday with breezy north winds through the day. 

The overall pattern across the East Coast is a cold one. While it's not unheard of this time of year, it will bring well below average temperatures to the Sunshine State this weekend and brutal Arctic air for parts of the Northeast. 

A trough over the eastern United States will promote very cold weather for the entire East Coast this weekend. Much of the United States will experience subfreezing temperatures this weekend, including many cities along the northern Gulf Coast.

Today's Big Stories

1. FBI: Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for Gabby Petito's death
The Federal Bureau of Investigation provided what it would said would be the last update on the Gabrielle Petito case, saying fiance Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for her death.

2. Interview: What's next for Rays after MLB's decision on Montreal?
The Tampa Bay Rays’ split-city plan of sharing part of their seasons in Montreal has struck out.

3. Texas judge temporarily halts vaccine mandate for federal workers
A judge in Texas temporarily halted the Biden administration from enforcing its mandate for federal workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

4. Gasparilla season set to kick off Saturday with children's parade
The city this past week has moved in big concrete barricades which crews are able to move around to block off the parade route.

5. Hillsborough Literacy Council giving immigrants the tools to succeed
In the nearly three decades that Frank Shideler has been tutoring English to immigrants through the Hillsborough Literacy Council, he’s taught dozens of people from around the globe, in places like Ukraine, Russia, Colombia, Peru, Nepal and China.

6. Citrus County Sheriff's Office warns of T-shirt scam
The text message claims to be selling Citrus County Sheriff’s Office agency shirts. Residents should not click on the link in the text, as it's a scam.

7. Atlas V successfully sends Space Force satellites into space
The satellites, which support the U.S. Space Command space surveillance operations, will improve safety by warning spacecraft about nearby objects. This is the first launch of the year from the Space Coast with a national security mission.

8. Tampa Bay Times: Annoyed by robocalls? A new Florida law might help
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which maintains the state’s Do Not Call list, used to broadly categorize telemarketing complaints under Do Not Call. In 2017, for example, it recorded more than 19,000 complaints on the issue. Last year, the agency tallied 13,761 unsolicited communications complaints, and just 3,719 of them were explicitly about the Do Not Call list.

9. Brady, Buccaneers aim to avenge regular-season loss to Rams
Here is what to know for Sunday's NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams.

Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

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When she was just 9 years old, this week’s A+ Teacher knew teaching would be her profession. Ida Shuler’s love and compassion are celebrated in her 5th grade classroom at Potter Elementary.