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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 020200

FFSTBW

FLZ050>052-055>057-060>062-065-020800-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1000 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2001



...A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND

PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...



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

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

AND LEE.



A TROPICAL WAVE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL BRING HEAVY

RAIN AND THE THREAT OF FLOODING ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL

FLORIDA BEGINNING LATER TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THURSDAY. RAINFALL

TOTALS THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 3 TO 4 INCH

RANGE BUT LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF UP TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...

ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH.



A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 36

HOURS. RESIDENTS LIVING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO

PROTECT PROPERTY.



RESIDENTS...PARTICULARLY THOSE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS...AS WELL AS

THOSE LIVING NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS...SHOULD BE PREPARED TO

MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.



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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