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The Perseid shower will mean 50 to 100 meteors per hour. Will Tampa Bay weather cooperate to see the fireballs?

FLORIDA — If the weather cooperates in Florida, 2023 could be a stellar year to take in the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks this weekend.

The moon won’t interfere with the Perseids, known as one of the best meteor shows of the year with between 50-100 shooting stars an hour at the peak and a good possibility of fireballs.

The Perseids are building in intensity for peak Friday and Saturday. Weather conditions in the Tampa Bay region look somewhat favorable, with partly cloudy skies forecast both nights, although showers are possible Saturday evening. The only natural light interference will come from a thin crescent moon — a far different story than last year, when the harsh light of a nearly full moon washed out all but the brightest meteors.

The big difference between the shooting star shows from the skywatcher’s vantage point is the difference between summer and winter. Regardless of the meteor shower, stargazers are rewarded by their patience, something many have in more abundance on warm summer versus cold winter nights.

If you can, find a dark sky location to watch for meteors. Most meteors will fly during predawn hours, though it’s possible to see them any time after 10 p.m. during the peak, according to NASA.

These are top sky-watching spots in Florida, according to Space Tourism Guide:

Also, the American Meteor Society notes, “the more stars you see, the more meteors will also be visible.”

The shooting stars may not all be from the Perseids. This summertime favorite intersects with the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, which continues through Aug. 21. The Perseids continue through Sept. 1.

Also, meteors randomly fly in the sky but don’t always seem to originate from a particular star or constellation. The Perseids, no matter where they’re seen in the sky, trace back to the radiant point of the constellation of Perseus. The meteor shower is a tiny piece of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 135 years, according to NASA.

In the heat of the summer, water temperatures at Clearwater Beach have been on the up and up.

Credit: 10 Tampa Bay

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The water temperature at Clearwater Beach reached 93 degrees over the weekend — so far the highest temp recorded since early and mid-July.

According to data from the National Data Buoy Center, water temps were up to 93.2 degrees by 8 p.m. on Sunday before coming back down an hour later.

Clearwater Beach hasn't seen water temperatures like that since last month when it reached 93 degrees on July 6 and 93.7 on July 21, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's tide and currents data.

Considering these temperatures — and recent headlines of water temperatures surpassing 100 degrees in parts of the Florida Keys — is this area warmer than average?

Only somewhat. Although water temperatures across the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic are warmer than average, it's by a degree or two, generally speaking.

Credit: 10 Tampa Bay

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Here's a roundup of monthly water temperature highs — increasing as Florida enters its summertime heat:

As of Monday, nearshore Gulf water temperatures are already reaching above 90 degrees.

Credit: 10 Tampa Bay

Back in July, water temperatures were sitting about these levels for Clearwater Beach – but according to 10 Tampa Bay Chief Meteorologist Bobby Deskins, it was actually on par with the yearly average.

It’s the Florida Keys’ warm water temperatures that could be concerning.

At the end of July, sea surface temperatures reached as high as 101.2 degrees around the state’s southern tip in Manatee Bay, according to the National Weather Service.

The month in question was so hot that scientists announced a global heat record even before the month ended. Climate change is creating a hotter world, warming oceans and making some storms more destructive. Sea surface temperatures are somewhat above average around Florida, but they are far higher in parts of the North Atlantic near Newfoundland where they are as much as 9 degrees hotter than usual.

The extremely high sea surface temperatures recorded that week off Florida's southern tip were caused by lots of sun, little wind and no storms.

The Associated Press and 10 Tampa Bay's BriShon Mitchell contributed to this report.

Mandalay is one of the most desirable subdivisions in Clearwater Beach and is the second-largest single-family home community, with over 500 homes. Homes in Mandalay include both inland and waterfront properties, with some offering access to the Intracoastal or the Gulf of Mexico. There are a wide range of price points in Mandalay, with a variety of sizes and features represented in these luxury single-family homes.

The original homes in the Mandalay subdivision were built in the 1920s, and there has been continual development since then. You will find homes with character and charm that have been standing for a century as well as new construction or fully remodeled properties, and everything in between. This community is a landmark of Clearwater Beach with a convenient location near the water, Carlouel Yacht Club, and more.

Mandalay is located on Clearwater Beach Proper. Residents can enjoy all the beach activities and water sports they prefer just steps from home, even launching a boat onto the Intracoastal Waterway from right outside your door if you choose a waterfront property.

Just north of Mandalay is the Carlouel Beach & Yacht Club. The club features a classic, retro atmosphere, established in 1934 and maintaining the original charm while being carefully updated, boasting Old Florida charm blended with modern amenities and conveniences. Amenities at the club include private beach access and two outdoor beachfront pools, children's activities, beachfront Har-Tru tennis courts, social events, boat slips with overnight docking, and more.

About a mile south of Mandalay is Clear Sky Beachside Cafe, the perfect spot to enjoy tapas appetizers, specialized pizzas, paninis, burgers and salads with live entertainment. They feature a beautiful outdoor dining area so you can enjoy the abundant Florida sunshine while you eat.

Looking for a great burger nearby? Try Frenchie's Rockaway Grill. Guests enjoy beachfront dining in a classic diner aesthetic, offering more than just burgers. The menu also includes their famous She Crab Soup and other freshly caught local seafood. Live music from local artists makes for a fun and lively atmosphere.

Families living in Mandalay are served by the Pinellas County School District. The highly regarded school district is known for offering a great community and quality of education. There are also a few private school options in the area.

Homes in Mandalay are mostly large, luxury properties. You will find some smaller homes around 1,500 square feet, as well as much larger homes of well over 3,000 square feet. Mandalay is a community of exclusively single-family homes, some set on the Intracoastal Waterway, some offering beach access along the Gulf of Mexico, and others located more inland but still featuring convenient proximity to the water.

The community began to be developed in the 1920s, so there is a wide range of styles and conditions in the area. Many of the homes have been updated or torn down and rebuilt, and a wide range of price points reflects this. Talk to a local real estate agent to find a home to meet your needs and dreams in Mandalay.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A proposed 35-story twin condo complex in Clearwater has nearby residents asking city leaders to take a look at the potential environmental impacts it could cause.

Though, the developer says it’s too soon to criticize the plans since this is only a proposal.

What You Need To Know

The property is located at 432 Bay Avenue in Clearwater.

Maryellen Gordon lives at the Prelude 80 condo complex, right next to where the proposed development would be located. She originally moved in the condo complex because of the waterfront view. But it’s the work that’s being proposed outside that caught her eye.

“We knew this would get developed at some point, we just never expected it would be able to come that close to the coast line, and we never thought that it would go as ridiculously and inexplicably tall as it is going,” she said.

Gordon said residents in her complex learned that a developer is proposing to build twin towers, 35 stories high, on the water, right next to her condo complex.

“Just to give you neighborhood context. Our building is about 13 stories, the assisted living facility right there is about 15 stories. I believe the tallest building in Clearwater is probably that white high rise and that’s 23 to 25 stories,” Gordon said. “There are plans to put in an underground parking garage facing the coastline. So the questions about sustainability and resiliency of that are also a huge issue.”

It’s huge for Jeffrey Denis. He’s the president of the Prelude 80 condo complex’s association. He says the proposed building makes him think of tragedy.

“We think of Surfside definitely,” Denis said of the 2022 building collapse there. “This building is built on the same bedrock as they’re gonna be drilling and we’re worried about what is that going to do to our foundation.”

Valor Capital is the development company in charge of the proposed project. The company submitted documents to the City of Clearwater about the project. But officials with the development firm say the renderings and plans are just conceptual and proposals.

The company is currently doing Geotech work on the property, using rock and soil mechanics to investigate the subsurface geologic conditions.

Representatives from the company said they’re in the beginning stages of the long process to figure out if city leaders think the proposal is even possible. The final design process is still another year and a half out.

So, nothing is set in stone and the worries of residents like Denis and Gordon will be considered in community meetings before any foundation is laid, according to the development firm.

For a state that sees natural disasters regularly, the words "Florida" and "tsunami" rarely, if ever, go together within a sentence.

Yet, some residents of Clearwater Beach found themselves at the scene of a small one on Wednesday afternoon, even if they might not realize it.

According to experts, the Gulf of Mexico beach was hit by a meteotsunami, a small type of tsunami. Here's what we know about the situation so far.

Meteotsunmai causes tragedy:A rogue wave caused a cruise ship tragedy. They occur more often than you think.

Did Florida get a tsunami?

Yes, it did, but more of a "tiny" one. According to the Weather Channel's Ari Salsalari, on Wednesday, June 21, Clearwater Beach experienced a meteotsunami.

The meteorologist explained that the strong squall line, known as a line of thunderstorms, showed it was in a small tsunami.

"Before the storms arrived, the wind was pretty light and out of the Southwest … and then sort of like a cold front, the winds switched out of the Northwest, so they kind of switched directions and they became pretty gusty right as the heavy rain arrived," Salsalari said in a video posted to the Weather Channel site. "But here's the thing, unlike a cold front, the pressure actually rose as the squalls made it to the shoreline."

He showed that the pressure picked by around 2 p.m., adding that the rising pressure and changing direction of the wind caused water levels to jump by roughly two and a half feet.

What is a meteotsunami?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration writes that meteotsunamis, unlike tsunamis triggered by seismic activity, are driven by air-pressure disturbances often associated with fast-moving weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, squalls, and other storm fronts. The storm generates a wave that moves toward the shore and is amplified by a shallow continental shelf and inlet, bay, or other coastal features.

These are still being studied and understood by scientists. So far, meteotsunamis have been observed to reach heights of over 6 feet and occur in many places around the world, including the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coast, and the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.

What is the difference between a meteotsunami and seiches?

NOAA shares that meteotsunamis and seiches will be confused for one another, as winds and atmospheric pressure can contribute to the formation of both.

However, winds are typically more important to a seiche motion, while pressure often plays a substantial role in meteotsunami formation. Seiches are standing waves with longer periods of water-level oscillations, typically exceeding periods of three or more hours. Meteotsunamis are progressive waves limited to the tsunami frequency band of wave periods anywhere from two minutes to two hours.

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Has Florida ever had a tsunami?

There have been eight tsunamis in Florida since 1848, with the most recent one being in 2001.

Is it likely for a tsunami to happen in Florida?

Experts claim the Atlantic Ocean has a relatively low rate of tsunami occurrences. Florida very rarely experiences many tsunamis, but it is still at risk.