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Temperatures expected to rise in Tampa after storms destroyed tree cover

By
Updated  March 18, 2025 5:01pm EDT
Hillsborough County
FOX 13 News

Tampa tree canopy hit hard by recent hurricanes

FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers explains that the shade from trees will not be as plentiful this summer after the recent hurricanes knocked many of the tree canopy's down.

The Brief

    • 2024's hurricane season destroyed thousands of trees in the Bay Area, wiping out the shade they provided.
    • Experts say that Tampa could face temperature increases because of it.
    • Federal grants to replant Tampa's trees were axed, which makes it more difficult for the city to improve tree canopies.

TAMPA, Fla. - Lots of us will be looking for shade when the temperatures rise this summer, but finding shade could be more difficult because thousands of trees were lost in the October hurricanes. 

Trees in downtown Tampa.

Scientists say shade can reduce surrounding temperatures by up to 6 degrees, which is a big difference when temperatures rise into the 90s.

RELATED: Tampa to restore tree canopy following back-to-back hurricanes 

Urban foresters estimate that up to 5% of Tampa's tree canopy was destroyed. 

The backstory:

"I just hope and pray they're wrong," said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. 

She says in the early 1990s, Tampa was singled out for its lush trees. 

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaking about Tampa's loss of trees on Friday.

"We were deemed as a community that had one of the best, if not the best, tree canopies in the world," Castor said Friday.

Dig deeper:

A flood of new development destroyed some of the tree canopy, but Hurricane Milton dealt Tampa's trees a blow, unlike any other event on record.

RELATED: Tampa's tree canopy thins out following back-to-back hurricanes

"It is disappointing," said Davis Islands resident Antolin Rivera. "There's a lot of people that like to walk and run and bicycle, and the canopy provides that shelter."

Trees blowing in the wind.

In addition, President Trump's cost-cutting efforts axed $1.6 million in federal grants to improve Tampa's tree canopy. 

PREVIOUS: Federal government withdraws $1M grant to help with replenishing Tampa’s thinning tree canopy

The news disappointed many at city hall.  

"We all know the benefits of having a robust tree canopy, especially for marginalized communities, when it comes to air quality, quality of life, heat index, etc. Now, that's going to be taken away," said City Councilman Luis Vieeek. 

What's next:

Tampa launched Plant Your Heart Out last week, which was underwritten by Suncoast Credit Union and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. 

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Tampa's 'Plant Your Heart Out' planting new trees in the city.

CLICK HERE:>>> Follow FOX 13 on YouTube

For more information on trees that are being made available for homeowners to plant, click here. 

The Source: FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers collected the information in this story.

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