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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 131055

FFSTBW

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-131700-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

700 AM EDT THU SEP 13 2001



...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES THROUGH THIS 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.



TROPICAL DEPRESSION 8 WAS LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO

ABOUT 260 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF NAPLES AS DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE

PERSISTS OVER THE FLORIDA PENINSULA. THE CIRCULATION AROUND THE

DEPRESSION WILL CREATE CONVERGENT BANDS OVER THE FLORIDA PENINSULA

WHICH WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR ENHANCED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. BANDS

OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SLOW MOVING WHICH WILL CAUSE

LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY

OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF OVER 4 INCHES.



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 SATURDAY.



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

FLOOD STAGE. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OVER ALREADY SATURATED GROUND WILL

MAINTAIN ONGOING RIVER FLOODING AND MAY INCREASE ITS SEVERITY.



REMEMBER A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24

TO 36 HOURS. 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 AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT

PROPERTY.



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

AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

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