Rainy, windy Saturday forecast during Bradenton Regatta

BRADENTON -- With a storm system moving away from the Tampa Bay area Saturday, the weather forecast is less than ideal for the second-annual free Bradenton Area River Regatta.

Organizer Mike Fetchko said the rain won't stop any of the fun in store for Saturday.

"Ya gotta regatta," he said.

Lightning or winds topping 20 mph could delay events.

Bay News 9 meteorologist Diane Kacmarik said there probably won't be enough rain to spoil the

day but her forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, 20-mph winds and temperatures reaching a high of 61 degrees.

Winds from the northwest will switch over to coming from the northeast during the day, she said. The Manatee River will have only a light chop at most, predicted Kacmarik.

"As long as it's under 20 mph we are great shape," Fetchko said.

Regatta organizers been monitoring the weather and are anticipating winds between 14 and 19 mph, he said.

The 40 percent chance of rain will likely involve light showers not expected to affect the area until after 4 p.m.

Temperature will drop slowly in the early evening with the overnight low going into Sunday predicted at 47 degrees.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 11:31 PM with the headline "Rainy, windy Saturday forecast during Bradenton Regatta ."