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WGUS72 KTBW 240854

FFSTBW

FLZ042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-241600-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

453 AM EDT TUE JUL 24 2001



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

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS MORNING...



THE FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF CITRUS...SUMTER...

HERNANDO...PASCO...PINELLAS...HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...

SARASOTA...DESOTO...HARDEE...HIGHLANDS...CHARLOTTE AND LEE.



LOW PRESSURE OVER THE BIG BEND OF FLORIDA THIS MORNING WILL CONTINUE

TO MOVE SLOWLY AWAY FROM WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...

BRINGING THE HEAVIEST RAIN OUT OF THE AREA. HOWEVER...SOME AREAS

COULD STILL SEE AN INCH OR TWO TODAY AS ONE BAND OF RAIN MOVES

ONSHORE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO EARLY THIS MORNING AND ADDITIONAL

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FORM LATER IN THE DAY AS HEATING TAKES

PLACE. WITH SATURATED GROUND FROM RECENT RAINS...IT WILL NOT TAKE

MUCH TO START SOME FLOODING OF LOW LYING LOCATIONS.



IN ADDITION...THE RECENT RAINS CONTINUE TO RUN OFF INTO RIVERS AND

STREAMS IN THE AREA. ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL ADD TO THE HEIGHT OF

LOCALS STREAMS...POTENTIALLY CAUSING MORE FLOODING. MANY RIVERS IN

THE SOUTHERN PART OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA CONTINUE UNDER FLOOD

WARNINGS.



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.

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