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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 030155

FFSTBW

FLZ050>052-055>057-060>062-065-030800-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1000 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2001



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

PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH FRIDAY...



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

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

AND LEE.



TROPICAL STORM BARRY OVER THE SOUTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO IS EXPECTED

TO MOVE SLOWLY TO THE NORTHWEST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...THIS WILL

KEEP A DEEP MOIST EAST AND SOUTHEAST FLOW ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

AND PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL

MAINTAIN RAIN ALONG WITH BANDS OF HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS

AND CONTINUE THE THREAT OF FLOODING. RAINFALL JUST OFFSHORE IN THE

EASTERN GULF TODAY HAS EXCEEDED 10 INCHES ACCORDING TO RADAR

ESTIMATES. SOME OF THAT HEAVIER RAIN IS MOVING ONSHORE THIS EVENING

WITH RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR POSSIBLE IN THE

HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS.



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.



STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES

AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

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