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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 130431

FFSTBW

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-131100-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1231 AM EDT THU SEP 13 2001



...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE

FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...



  CHARLOTTE...                      CITRUS...

  DESOTO...                         HARDEE...

  HERNANDO...                       HIGHLANDS...

  HILLSBOROUGH...                   LEVY...

  MANATEE...                        PASCO...

  PINELLAS...                       POLK...

  SARASOTA...                       LEE...

  SUMTER...



INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ZEPHYRHILLS...WINTER HAVEN...VENICE...

TAMPA...SPRING HILL...SEBRING...SARASOTA...PUNTA GORDA...PORT

CHARLOTTE...NEW PORT RICHEY...LAKELAND...INVERNESS...CLEARWATER...

CHIEFLAND...BROOKSVILLE...BRANDON...BRADENTON...BARTOW AND ARCADIA.



DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE PERSISTS OVER THE FLORIDA PENINSULA.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 8 WAS LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHEAST GULF OF

MEXICO ABOUT 230 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF NAPLES.  THE CIRCULATION

AROUND THE DEPRESSION WILL CREATE CONVERGENT BANDS OVER THE FLORIDA

PENINSULA WHICH WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WILL BE ALONG

THE SOUTHWEST COAST AS BANDS OF RAIN MOVE ONSHORE.  BANDS OF SHOWERS

AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SLOW MOVING WHICH WILL CAUSE LOCALLY HEAVY

RAINFALL.  2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY WITH LOCALLY

HIGHER AMOUNTS.



THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY ON RAINFALL THAT CAN BE

EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.  THIS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT

ON THE TRACK TROPICAL DEPRESSION 8 TAKES AND ANY INTENSIFICATION

OF THIS SYSTEM.  THE THREAT EXISTS FOR RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10

INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS...THROUGH FRIDAY.



SEVERAL RIVERS EAST AND SOUTHEAST OF TAMPA BAY REMAIN NEAR OR ABOVE

FLOOD STAGE.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL MAINTAIN ONGOING RIVER

FLOODING AND MAY INCREASE ITS SEVERITY.  RESIDENTS...PARTICULARLY

THOSE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS...AS WELL AS THOSE LIVING NEAR RIVERS...

SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS...SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER

GROUND.



REMEMBER 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.



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

ANY UPDATES...AND POSSIBLE FLOOD ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS TONIGHT AND

THURSDAY.

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