TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — For the first time on record, Tampa reached a temperature of 100 degrees Sunday. That’s at the airport, at least, which is the official reporting site.
The 3:30 p.m. observation at the Tampa weather station showed a high of 100 degrees for the first time ever.
The reason Tampa has never seen an actual air temperature of 100 degrees is attributed to a combination of factors, the main one being its proximity to the water.
The cooling effect of the air as it blows in off the bay spreads humidity. As a result, the moisture present makes the air much harder to heat than dry air.
In addition, frequent thunderstorms overhead play a hand in cooling down the area during the afternoons.
Tampa has never hit the century mark—until now.