SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
315 AM EST WED MAR 10 2010
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDAR KEY...CHIEFLAND...CRYSTAL RIVER...
INVERNESS...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL...
NEW PORT RICHEY...ZEPHYRHILLS...CLEARWATER...ST. PETERSBURG...
BRANDON...TAMPA...LAKELAND...WINTER HAVEN...BRADENTON...
WAUCHULA...SEBRING...AVON PARK...SARASOTA...VENICE...ARCADIA...
PORT CHARLOTTE...PUNTA GORDA...CAPE CORAL...FORT MYERS
315 AM EST WED MAR 10 2010
...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT
AND FRIDAY...
AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE EASTERN
GULF OF MEXICO ON THURSDAY. THIS LOW IS THEN FORECAST TO MOVE
ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA PENINSULA DURING THURSDAY NIGHT
AND FRIDAY. ABUNDANT MOISTURE STREAMING NORTH INTO WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AHEAD OF THIS LOW COMBINED WITH UPPER LEVEL
JET DYNAMICS AND INCREASING LARGE SCALE LIFT WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD
RAINS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY.
AT THE CURRENT TIME WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES
ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY 3 TO 5 INCH AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THE HEAVY
RAIN WILL PRODUCE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS AND WILL CAUSE AREA RIVERS TO RISE. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG
RIVERS AND FASTER FLOWING STREAMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO RAPID
RISES IN WATER LEVELS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY AND BE READY TO
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED.
IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAIN STRENGTHENING LOW AND MID LEVEL
WIND FIELDS COUPLED WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL
INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND AHEAD OF
SOUTHEASTWARD MOVING COLD FRONT WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND OR
TORNADOES THE MAIN HAZARDS.
ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR
FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

MCMICHAEL