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000 

WGUS72 KTBW 190817

FFSTBW

FLZ039-042-048>051-055-060-062-065-191500-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

415 AM EDT THU JUN 19 2003



...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY FOR COASTAL SECTIONS OF

   WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...



THIS FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...



  CHARLOTTE...                      CITRUS...

  HERNANDO...                       HILLSBOROUGH...

  LEVY...                           MANATEE...

  PASCO...                          PINELLAS...

  SARASOTA...                       LEE...



INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ZEPHYRHILLS...VENICE...TAMPA...SPRING

HILL...SARASOTA...PUNTA GORDA...PORT CHARLOTTE...NEW PORT

RICHEY...INVERNESS...CLEARWATER...CHIEFLAND...BROOKSVILLE...

BRANDON...AND BRADENTON.



DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND EASTERN PACIFIC

OCEAN WILL CONTINUE TO FEED OVER WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

THROUGH FRIDAY. PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS

THE AREA. THE HEAVIEST RAIN SHOULD GENERALLY FALL BETWEEN 6 AM AND

6 PM EACH DAY WITH SOME SLACKENING DURING THE LATE EVENING AND

OVERNIGHT HOURS.



SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP OVER THE GULF OF

MEXICO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.  HEAVIEST RAINFALL THROUGH EARLY

THURSDAY WILL GENERALLY BE NORTH OF TARPON SPRINGS AND SOUTH OF

VENICE.  BY MID MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD SPREAD TO

THE TAMPA BAY AND SARASOTA BRADENTON AREAS.



SEVERAL COASTAL AREAS RECEIVED OVER 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL ON

WEDNESDAY AND AND MOST OF THE AREA RECEIVED OVER 3 INCHES.  THE

GROUND IS SATURATED AND ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL COULD RESULT IN

LOCALIZED FLOODING.



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

TO 36 HOURS. RESIDENTS 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. TYPICALLY POOR DRAINAGE

AREAS WILL LIKELY SEE FLOODING FROM TIME TO TIME...AND SOME ROAD

CLOSURES DUE TO HIGH WATER ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.



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

AND POSSIBLE ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS.



$$

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