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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 270335

FFSTBW

FLZ055>057-060>062-065-271000-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1133 PM EDT WED SEP 26 2001



...A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THROUGH THIS THURSDAY.



THE FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF...CHARLOTTE...DESOTO...

HARDEE...HIGHLANDS...LEE...MANATEE...AND SARASOTA.



A STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS THE SOUTH CENTRAL PENINSULA WITH AMPLE

TROPICAL MOISTURE ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE FRONT...WILL PROVIDE THE

SETUP FOR POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF

DAYS AS LOWER PRESSURE DISTURBANCES RIDE EASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT.



ALTHOUGH A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT...IT APPEARS THE PREMISE FOR

HEAVY RAINFALL REMAINS MINIMAL FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER THE

WATCH WILL REMAIN IN PLACE DUE TO THE THREAT OF POSSIBLE FLOODING

RAINFALL DEVELOPING DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. RAINFALL TOTALS

OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA WITH LOCALLY

HIGHER AMOUNTS.



STREAMS SUCH AS THE PEACE RIVER...HORSE CREEK...AND THE MYAKKA RIVER

REMAIN AT OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. THEREFORE ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL

WILL FURTHER AGGRAVATE RIVER AND ASSOCIATED SMALL STREAM FLOODING.

THERE MAY ALSO BE SERIOUS PONDING OF EXCESSIVE RUNOFF IN AREAS WHICH

HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED RECENT FLOODING DUE TO TROPICAL STORM

GABRIELLE.



ALL PERSONS...PARTICULARLY THOSE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS...SHOULD

MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND ADVISORIES CONCERNING THIS POSSIBLE

HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT PROPERTY.



DMR

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