

000 

WGUS72 KTBW 230208

FFSTBW

FLZ049>052-055>057-060>062-065-230900-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1005 PM EDT SUN JUL 22 2001



...A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST

FLORIDA THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...



THE LATEST FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF PASCO...PINELLAS...

HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...SARASOTA...DESOTO...HARDEE...

HIGHLANDS...CHARLOTTE AND LEE. NOTE...THE WATCH NOW INCLUDES

PASCO COUNTY.



A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE EAST CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO

WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY WEST TO NORTHWEST TONIGHT. THE MOIST

SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THIS LOW WILL HELP TO

PUSH NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE EASTERN GULF

WATERS...NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE COASTAL COUNTIES FROM PINELLAS

COUNTY...SOUTHWARD TO LEE COUNTY TONIGHT. BY LATER TONIGHT...SHOWERS

AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FARTHER NORTH OVER

PASCO COUNTY.



THE BEST CHANCES FOR THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS AGAIN EXPECTED TO BE

OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF THE WATCH AREA...WHERE ADDITIONAL LOCAL

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE.



RESIDENTS...PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING IN THE SAINT PETERSBURG AREA...

SOUTHWARD TO BRADENTON...SARASOTA AND VENICE...SHOULD BE PREPARED

FOR THE POTENTIAL OF MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING...POORLY DRAINED

AREAS.



DRAINAGE CULVERTS AND LOW LYING INTERSECTIONS OF STREETS AND

ROADWAYS WILL ALSO BE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO

USE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING...AND

AVOID DRIVING THROUGH ANY WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS.



A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY

MORNING. RESIDENTS LIVING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD TAKE ACTION

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

DEVELOPS.



$$

MORALES

