MANATEE -- Showers and thunderstorms are likely in Bradenton on Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

But first, the area will see another warm and sunny -- albeit breezy, too -- day.

Skies were expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 79 and southerly winds of 11 to 16 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Wind gusts could reach as high as 33 mph, according to the Weather Service.

Thursday night, there is a 60 percent of rain, with the best chance of showers and thunderstorms coming after 2 a.m. A low temperature of 60 and southerly winds of 14 to 20 mph -- with some gusts reaching as high as 26 mph -- are expected.

The chance of rain extends into Thursday, followed by an expected drop in temperatures. The expected high Thursday is 66 and the low in the evening was expected to drop to about 43.