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Tampa weather | Thursday morning forecast
FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg says Thursday will have variable clouds with showers and storms developing. The high temperature will be 88 degrees.
TAMPA, Fla. - The Atlantic Ocean remains remarkably calm as strong wind shear tears apart potential tropical systems across the basin.
High wind shear suppresses Atlantic tropical formation
What we know:
Forecasters do not expect any tropical storm development in the Atlantic Ocean over the next several days. Widespread wind shear across the basin is disrupting systems and preventing tropical waves from organizing into named storms.
What we don't know:
Meteorologists are continuing to monitor whether late-season atmospheric shifts could briefly lower wind shear levels in specific localized areas.
Late season focus shifts toward Gulf and Caribbean
Timeline:
As hurricane season moves into October, meteorologists typically shift their primary focus from the open Atlantic back toward the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
The backstory:
During active El Niño cycles, increased wind shear frequently sweeps across the Gulf of Mexico throughout October.
This hostile atmospheric pattern typically restricts tropical organization during the final months of the season.
What's next:
Tropical forecasts maintain quiet conditions across the Atlantic basin through early next week.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg using meteorological reports and atmospheric forecasts.