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WGUS72 KMFL 141519

FFSMIA

FLZ063-066>075-152200-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL

1117 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 2001



...FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA CONTINUES...



THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE THE FLOOD WATCH THROUGH

SATURDAY FOR ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA. HOWEVER...THE THREAT OF ADDITIONAL

HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING HAS LESSENED NOW THAT GABRIELLE IS MOVING

MORE RAPIDLY.



TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE MADE LANDFALL NEAR VENICE FLORIDA AROUND

MID MORNING FRIDAY AND BY 11 AM EDT WAS JUST EAST OF TAMPA.

GABRIELLE IS MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 15 MPH AND THAT MOTION IS

EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ALTHOUGH A SOMEWHAT SLOWER SPEED IS EXPECTED

LATER TODAY.



THROUGH THE REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT...ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS

OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE

PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE METRO AREAS OF THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST.

THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST AND THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE REGION WILL BE

EXPERIENCING A DRY SLOT...WHICH IS A FEATURE SOMETIMES ASSOCIATED

WITH STRONGLY SHEARED TROPICAL SYSTEMS. THIS DRY SLOT IS GOOD NEWS IN

THAT IT WILL ALLOW A PERIOD OF TIME IN WESTERN COLLIER...WESTERN

HENDRY...AND WESTERN GLADES COUNTIES FOR WATER FROM PREVIOUS HEAVY

RAINS TO DRAIN OFF. IT DOES NOT MEAN THE RAIN IS COMPLETELY OVER FOR

THE SOUTHWEST COAST...BUT ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY BE

SPOTTY.



HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS ARE STILL RUMBLING

ACROSS THE REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA. THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT

DISTRICT HAS ADVISED THAT CANALS ARE ALREADY NEAR CAPACITY AND

ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE FLOODING. PERSONS WITH

FLOODING CONCERNS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY SHOULD STAY INFORMED

AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.



IN THE LAST 24 HOURS...LARGER RAINFALL REPORTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

INCLUDE ABOUT 4 AND A QUARTER INCHES AT PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND OCHOPEE IN COLLIER COUNTY. ALMOST 4

INCHES FELL AT NORTH PALM BEACH AND BOYNTON BEACH AND OVER 3 INCHES

FELL AT WEST BOCA RATON...ALL IN PALM BEACH COUNTY...AT NAPLES

IN COLLIER COUNTY...AND AT LAKEPORT IN GLADES COUNTY. SEVERAL

LOCATIONS IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAVE RECEIVED IN EXCESS OF 10 INCHES OF

RAIN IN THE LAST 4 TO 5 DAYS.



A SIDE BENEFIT TO THE HEAVY RAIN IS THAT LAKE OKEECHOBEE HAS RISEN

0.7 FOOT IN THE LAST WEEK AND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WAS AT 12.71

FEET.



DRIVERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA ARE URGED TO CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION

AS THE ROADWAYS WILL BE WET WITH SOME PONDING OF WATER. ALL PERSONS

IN SOUTH FLORIDA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION SHOULD

FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED OR SHOULD FLOODING CONDITIONS OCCUR.

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