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WGUS72 KTBW 230900

FFSTBW

FLZ049>052-055>057-060>062-065-231500-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

500 AM EDT MON JUL 23 2001



...A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY...



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

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

HIGHLANDS...CHARLOTTE AND LEE.



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

WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY WEST TO NORTHWEST TODAY. 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 THIS MORNING. BY LATER TODAY...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FARTHER NORTH

OVER PASCO COUNTY.



THE BEST CHANCES FOR THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL THIS MORNING WILL BE FROM

PUNTA GORDA AND LAKE PLACID TO SARASOTA AND LAKE WALES. THE AREA OF

HEAVY RAIN SHOULD SLOWLY WORK NORTHWARD INTO THE TAMPA BAY AREA

AND POLK COUNTY BY AFTERNOON.



RESIDENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF 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 TODAY...AND AVOID DRIVING THROUGH ANY WATER

OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS.



A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. 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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