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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 220901

FFSTBW

FLZ050>052-055>057-060>062-065-222100-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

500 AM EDT SUN JUL 22 2001



...A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PINELLAS...HILLSBOROUGH...

POLK...MANATEE...SARASOTA...DESOTO...HARDEE...HIGHLANDS...CHARLOTTE

AND LEE COUNTIES THROUGH TODAY...



LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS AGAIN EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF WEST

CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. A GENERAL RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES

IS EXPECTED FROM THE INTERSTATE 4 CORRIDOR SOUTHWARD...INCLUDING

THE CITIES OF TAMPA...SAINT PETERSBURG...BRADENTON...SARASOTA...AND

FORT MYERS. LOCAL AMOUNTS COULD BE QUITE A BIT HEAVIER WITH A FEW

SPOTS PICKING UP 5 INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE THE DAY IS FINISHED.



TODAYS HEAVY RAIN ON TOP OF RECENT HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE AREAS OF

URBAN FLOODING. DRAINAGE CULVERTS AND LOW LYING INTERSECTIONS ARE

PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION WHEN

DRIVING TODAY AND AVOID FLOODED ROADWAYS.



A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE THROUGH AT LEAST THIS

AFTERNOON. RESIDENTS LIVING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD TAKE ACTION

TO PROTECT PROPERTY...AND BE PREPARED TO LEAVE QUICKLY IF FLOODING

DEVELOPS.

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