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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 290324

FFSTBW

FLZ055>057-060>062-065-291000-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1123 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2001



...THE FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY FOR THE

FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA:



  CHARLOTTE                        DESOTO

  HARDEE                           HIGHLANDS

  LEE                              MANATEE

  SARASOTA



AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO WILL MOVE

NORTHEASTWARD ALONG A STATIONARY FRONT OVER THE SOUTH PENINSULA LATE

TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. ABUNDANT MOISTURE...ALONG WITH UPPER LEVEL

DISTURBANCES MOVING OVER THE AREA WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE POTENTIALLY

HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS OVER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.



WIDESPREAD RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE SOUTH

PENINSULA OVERNIGHT WITH PRECIPITATION EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO

THIS SATURDAY.



RAINFALL DURING THE PAST 48 HOURS HAS AVERAGED 1 TO 3 INCHES OVER

LEE AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS. ADDITIONAL

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ANOTHER 2 TO 3 INCHES IS PROBABLE THROUGH

SATURDAY. FURTHER NORTHWARD IN THE WATCH AREA RAINFALL AMOUNTS

HAVE AVERAGED UNDER 1 INCH WITH ONLY ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS...

WITH ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF LESS THAN 2 INCHES POSSIBLE INTO

SATURDAY.



THE PEACE RIVER...AND MYAKKA RIVER REMAIN NEAR FLOOD STAGE SO THAT

ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL WILL FURTHER AGGRAVATE RIVER AND ASSOCIATED

SMALL STREAM FLOODING. SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING MAY ALSO OCCUR FROM

THE PONDING OF RUNOFF...PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHICH HAVE ALREADY

EXPERIENCED DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS.



A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

RESIDENTS LIVING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT

PROPERTY.

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