Bob Harrigan
Chief Meteorologist
Sarasota, FL
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/raycom/fe8fa00e-97da-4679-9246-24c5965bea8b.png)
ABC 7's Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan has been forecasting Suncoast weather for more than 30 years. You can watch Bob's forecasts weekdays at 5 pm, 5:30 pm, 6 pm, 7pm, and 11 pm.
Bob graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Atmospheric science. Before coming to Sarasota in 1985, Bob worked for the National Weather Service as a weather observer, and as an instructor in weather forecasting and micro-computer classes at the University of Kansas.
Bob has a unique perspective on Hurricanes. He was able to experience the power of these storms close up. In 1996 he flew into the eye of a 115 mph hurricane named Bertha aboard the famed Hurricane hunter aircraft. In 2004 he boarded NOAA's hurricane hunter aircraft, the P3 Orion, and flew into an even stronger storm named Ivan. Strong storm systems can pop-up quickly here on the Suncoast, and Bob always makes sure viewers are armed with knowledge to help them get through severe weather when it threatens our area.
Bob has been voted by the Bradenton Herald readers as the "Best Television Meteorologist" in the Tampa bay area over 5 times. He has also been voted the "Best Television Personality" by Sarasota Magazine many times and recently 3 in a row from 2014 through 2017.
Besides weather Bob enjoys playing golf and fishing. In fact you can catch his fishing segment "Fishin' with Bob and Capt. Jonnie" on Thursdays at 11 p.m. and again on Friday's 5:30 newscast.
Bob volunteers his time with countless non-for profit organizations, raising money and awareness for some wonderful causes. He provides valuable hurricane and severe weather seminars each year for Suncoast residents. "The Suncoast is the lightning capitol of North America, and it's essential for survival to know safety tips that can save lives."
Bob has been designated a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society.
Additionally, Bob Harrigan has been recognized by Bradenton-Sarasota's Spark Growth as an area "Thought Leader" and was a featured panelist for their talk about technology, weather, and the future.
Bob resides in Bradenton with his wife Susan and daughter Emma Grace.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NAQCD4DW4BAW5JL5PDX2MCRT3U.png)
Something everyone should be thankful for this Thanksgiving is the weather. We are expecting to see mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70s and low humidity. Winds will be much lighter
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EWDFI2LIG5ED5JAC4XKTWNW4ZQ.jpg)
People will be busting out the jackets for Wednesday morning at least as temperatures drop into the 40s for most everyone. We will see low 50s on the barrier islands. It will still
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EKIJADCARZD47B4LBSEZXSRNSI.jpg)
Say goodbye to the 80s for at least the next 7 days. Temperatures will stay below average through early next week. Now Thanksgiving looks to be
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LY3UETHPINHUHPXUK2V6LFX2YM.JPG)
A breezy weekend can be expected with winds out of the ENE at 10-15 mph with some higher gusts occasionally. We will see a mix of sun and clouds
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AIUEYV5OFVCB3JLWABE2T4NG7A.png)
The longest partial lunar eclipse on Friday morning may not be visible for many due to cloud cover still lingering from the storm system. Right now the the chances of clearing skies is at 50%.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/J3XZA6UQFRCYLDU5H3GAN4JCMM.png)
Beach chairs will be replaced by umbrellas on Thursday for rain, not for the sunshine. The UV index will be low as little sunshine in the forecast for
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/5FRSM2L6KJHEHMZQHXDRTCGRRY.png)
The weather will be beautiful again on Wednesday with generally sunny skies to start the day and temperatures not nearly as chilly as they have been. Temperatures will be around
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3FHZFKUFQFCAXI7B3Z6JJDV36I.png)
Jacket and sweater weather continues on Tuesday morning but by the afternoon you can put them away for a while. Lows will be below the average of 60 degrees for most dropping into the low 50′s east of I-75 degrees and mid to upper 50s closer to the coast.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OXNZ4QB6IRCSPOG6HHVDUP4SWI.jpg)
We will see some low clouds or even some fog around sunrise on Saturday with only a very small chance for a few light showers. Temperatures will be mild to start the day with lows generally in the mid 60s.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3MMCJLSZL5ELBMA77UVKODQEAI.png)
The first of two cold fronts will move through our area late on Friday bringing only a small chance for a few passing showers by Friday midday. Look for a mix of sun and clouds through the day with a high around 80 degrees. Winds
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QM4BTVWBEVHVLIOIOH56G5EFRQ.png)
For Veteran’s day we can expect to see clouds in and out through the day with a few scattered showers and a small chance for an isolated thunderstorm. The rain chance is at 30% and the majority of rain will be inland pushing
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FIRGPFHRP5AJHNRI34QSA7ITKU.png)
The jacket and sweater weather is going away for a couple of days but will be back over the weekend. A cold front will be moving through the area on
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/A3EIP7M46FAXNBRMXRVD6XVGC4.png)
A light jacket or sweater will be necessary once again if your heading out early on Tuesday as temperatures will be in the mid 50s for most right
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HETKHVGBD5EVRNZ426S7D67YBY.png)
The storm system which brought periods of heavy rain across parts of the SW Florida will slowly move NE out into the Atlantic on Saturday. It will sweep a strong cold front our way which
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DPPUSCNACJCLRFZTYC4RTDI5CM.png)
The cloudy skies on Thursday turn to stormy skies on Friday as an area of low pressure moves across Florida. Expect to see periods of showers
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GADRF66M7NF7VCYXSVFZS32GPE.png)
We are in for some disruptive weather late Thursday through Friday as a storm system develops in the Gulf and moves toward Florida. We will see the stormy weather move in late Thursday and stick around through Friday. With this storm we have made Friday a “First Alert Weather day”
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AOKEDN7O4JGS7CHBYSM4NPEACA.png)
It will feel a little warmer on Wednesday as higher humidity begins to filter back in over the Suncoast. A weak area of low pressure will move across S. Florida into the Gulf. There it will merge
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AWFF6HZ6WNGU3BPW6CAXIRVZPI.png)
Temperatures have been cool lately but will be on the way up after Tuesday and so will the humidity. Look for partly cloudy skies on Tuesday with a high in the upper 70s to low 80s
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NEVNW32PAZGSHM5JRVMPQYBWFA.png)
After a very windy Friday expect those winds to die down a bit on Saturday and as we go through the day. There will still be some cloudiness now and
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EKRDAPOZWBAL3EBAQEITUJUPO4.jpg)
A strong cold front will drive through overnight bringing in some much drier air and cooler weather for Friday and beyond. The large low pressure over the SE U.S. is the driving force of this front has some very strong winds
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PDE4KJB445GBBHU6YU76JCHXQ4.png)
Mother nature is bringing some tricks and treats our way the the holiday weekend. The weather will be tricky on Thursday for most everyone as the strongest cold
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WCGXPFJHSZD3PCNLHD4VRYOWNI.png)
We are going to see a First Alert Weather day for Thursday and possibly extended into Friday for coastal locations. This means that we will see some very disruptive weather conditions which will have an impact on you
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CRFHNYUPRJA3PIQQWJVBHHWNI4.jpg)
Temperatures going up and so is the humidity as winds switch around to the SE bringing in some additional moisture. On Saturday look for mostly sunny skies in the morning with skies becoming
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HRFYSI75MZCHPI2K5SINFSV3D4.jpg)
We could be in for a rather dry and warm end of Fall through January that according to the National Climatic Prediction Center who has come out with their 90 day prediction on Thursday. The long range forecast
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HNIVQNN6JZAKJHFV7IALUKDGGY.jpg)
The little taste of Fall was nice while it lasted but summer is coming back by the weekend. Look for an increase in the heat, humidity and a chance for some much needed rain. Winds
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BFLQNE7DNRBQNLHPYD3B4RXWGQ.jpg)
Nice cool start again on Wednesday with lows below average some areas in the low 60's
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/UWYPF3E6WBDE5P34IT7COSHYRE.jpg)
It was sure nice on Monday morning stepping out to walk the dogs and seeing the temperatures in the low to mid 60′s across much of the area. There was a
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DTONQK67OBESTCZA74U7WEJ6HQ.png)
Looking for some relief from the heat and humidity this weekend as a cold front moves through early Sunday morning. This will bring
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VHC5U352HBH5JKXUXCACWJUWGA.png)
Typically it’s the just after the 2nd week in October that we see our first real cold front and right on cue one will be moving through this weekend.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2ND7SBWHCNEPPBKUOZ6P7J2ZN4.png)
Yes! Finally a cold front will be moving through on Sunday, but you won’t need to bust out the jackets and sweaters quite yet. This weak cold front will slip through the area early
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VXINT6C4MRFK5BHAM2AXVLRSRM.jpg)
Climatologically speaking the first significant cold front usually makes it down here after the 2nd week of October. It looks like it will be delayed a bit but it gets
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3AKRV3UDS5AZPNIGZPITT2S6XQ.jpg)
With high pressure at the sprawling across our area we will continue to see beautiful weather throughout all of this work week. There is an upper level low off of S.E. Florida but should not have a big impact on us at all. Things will
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/RQKP3ATLLVBFFDO3OIHFTJW4G4.png)
A weak frontal system will move through Saturday morning will bring a chance for a few showers and an isolated thunderstorm along the coast through late morning.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NXADMB5UVNCBPBSHSKQ27OFJFI.png)
Summer pattern holding on for a couple more days with a heat index in the mid 90′s on Friday with a good chance for scattered storms.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/V7J2LCZF4JFPRLQZGBILAIB7XM.png)
It’s back to the heat and humidity for a while along the Suncoast as SE winds return to the Suncoast. Look for mostly sunny skies in the morning with a 40% chance for a few late day storms.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/R7T2ZCX4PNB67KYTVUAD5MX4BI.png)
A line of low pressure in the Gulf will slowly lift out of here on Wednesday but still bring some cloudiness now and again to the Suncoast on Wednesday. We will see
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6ZVX4QEMLVC3XAD7JBCHC2XQHI.png)
Lawns are turning brown around town as Mother nature has turned off the spigot. Dry air has slipped in over the past few days but
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/K3AMMGPYBNF3FA32GAH4YOQZXI.png)
Even though we are well into Fall we will see summer like conditions continuing through the weekend. Dew points are back to uncomfortable levels once again which is anything
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HHBLEJN3Y5FF5HAOXKDSXA2RJM.png)
It was nice while it lasted. The drier air which has been around for the past few days will be moving out for the weekend so expect it to feel a little more like summer once again. There will also be a slight chance for
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6HMLLBAIGZDHFCRXPUE5RMGL4I.png)
Another nice start to your Thursday expected with low humidity once again. The lows near the coast will be in the low 70′s and areas basically a
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LGM6WTZAZNCOFADDPJTZO77ZAQ.png)
I don’t know about you but I really enjoyed the day on Tuesday. I know it was still in the upper 80′s but it was the low humidity that made a big difference for me.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VED3VH23IVAXHPWU2JKS7OZNBM.png)
We are now 6 days into Fall but it is still feeling warm out there. Typically we don’t see a big cold front until after the first week of October to bring a bit of a chill here along the Suncoast. The average
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/A5Q5A72HINGEVIE2LAN4AJ6RAA.png)
It’s down to only two names left in this busy 2021 season. For the second year in a row it looks like we will have to tap into another list of names. Sub-tropical storm Teresa
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GUPOBI34KZFU7C5TVGWETGTIKU.png)
Fall is coming to Florida but just not here. A cold front is going to make it to central Florida by Friday and then
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CREZ37ROZRCA7AKDVCI6NYUEQ4.png)
Fall officially begins at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday and Fall is getting closer to the Suncoast as cold front is moving our way. This front is going to
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BTH4WRMLDVAFHGRWDL7D5XI4SM.png)
The summer of 2021 is almost over as Fall officially arrives at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday. The last full day of Summer is Tuesday and we can expect a a summer like day with a good deal of afternoon and evening thunderstorms and a high near 90.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QQRGTCWFJNERFB72KAFXJDLJII.png)
Weekend weather forecast is looking a bit wet as a trough of low pressure persists in the eastern Gulf of Mexico
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QDNHDGQJ5RA4RMRFDNMGDQHMK4.png)
With a generally light winds out of the south to southwest on Friday morning and deep tropical moisture still in play we can expect to see scattered showers and thunderstorms along the coast to start the day.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SXANFL4BDBDBJECWVXA3D7MRDQ.png)
It has been mainly afternoon and evening storms along the coast for the Suncoast lately but that’s about to change. The pressure is falling
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JHNZBC2HQVESTOMHITMDMTSLII.png)
We will continue to see scattered mainly afternoon and evening storms through the rest of the work week into the weekend. With a steady east to southeast wind during the morning and early afternoon collides