Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of central Florida in the United States. Easily accessible by Interstate 4 and Interstate 75, it is the largest city in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area which is composed of roughly 2.6 million residents, making it the second largest MSA in the state behind the new Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach MSA, and third largest MSA in the south. It is also the third largest city in the state following Jacksonville (Duval County consolidated) and Miami. It is also the county seat of Hillsborough County{{GR|6}}. The Population within the city limits in 2004 according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 321,772. The area code served by the city is 813. Other cities in Hillsborough County include Temple Terrace, FL and Plant City, FL.

Weather

Tampa experiences a subtropical to temperate climate. Highs usually stay between 65 and 95 year round °F (18 and 33 °C), and lows rarely go below 32°F (0°C). These rare freezes are an enormous threat to area agriculture and aquaculture. Fog can also be a major problem in the winter and spring. Temperatures are hot June through October. These summer days have highs around 90 °F (32 °C) and high humidity. The summer nighttime temperature drops to only around 75 °F (23 °C). Thunderstorms are a major concern on summer afternoons. High winds, small hail, and torrential rain often accompany these common afternoon thunderstorms which can be severe. Tornadoes are not unheard of. These storms often move out over the Gulf of Mexico at night, where they are easily seen from land as spectacular light shows. Another major concern for Tampa is the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1st to November 30th and peaks in September . It has been more than 50 years since Tampa has had a direct hit from a hurricane. Tampa also is synonymous as the "Lighning Capital of the World," due in part to the frequent, dangerous and (on rare occasions) deadly lightning strikes.

Related Topics:
°F - °C - Agriculture - Aquaculture - June - October - Humidity - Thunderstorm - Afternoon - Wind - Hail - Rain - Thunderstorms - Tornado - Gulf of Mexico - Atlantic - Hurricane

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