Publication Date May 18, 2017 | Tampa Bay Times

Could Tampa reach 100 degrees for the first time ever? Another record heat day begs the question

United States
The sun burns through the sky Thursday morning over Clearwater, a day in which Tampa Bay would see another heat record shattered. Photo: Jim Damas, Times
The sun burns through the sky Thursday morning over Clearwater, a day in which Tampa Bay would see another heat record shattered. Photo: Jim Damas, Times

Article excerpt

May's unrelenting heat wave has shattered another record temperature at Tampa International Airport, this time hitting 97 degrees on a day when the previous record was 93.

The airport also tied a temperature record the day before, with a high of 98 on Wednesday. The previous record had been set in 1975.

"Ninety-eight degrees for May, that's crazy," said 10Weather WTSP meteorologist Bobby Deskins. "That's one degree from the warmest we've ever measured at Tampa International Airport — ever."

If you're keeping track, that makes nine record high temperatures since 2017 began, Deskins said. Thursday's previous record was set in 1995.

The airport has never hit 100 degrees, but Deskins thinks that's just a matter of time.

"I've been saying this for years now," he said. "I think it could go. It may go this year."