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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 020901

FFSTBW

FLZ050>052-055>057-060>062-065-021500-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

500 AM EDT THU AUG 2 2001



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

PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH TONIGHT...



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

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

AND LEE.



A TROPICAL DISTURBANCE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL BRING

HEAVY RAIN AND THE THREAT OF FLOODING ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND WEST

CENTRAL FLORIDA BEGINNING LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAINFALL

TOTALS THROUGH TONIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO BE AS MUCH AS 4 INCHES...

BUT LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE.



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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