Flood Watch In Effect Through Saturday In Pasco County

TAMPA BAY, FL — As if widespread protests against police brutality and the coronavirus pandemic weren't enough to deal with, hurricane season arrived this week and, with it, a tropical depression hovering in the Gulf of Mexico.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service in Ruskin issued a flood watch for Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota and Pinellas County through Saturday afternoon.

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The NWS said residents should prepare for heavy rain and the threat of localized flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas as well as pooling of water on roadways.

Tropical moisture will continue throughout west-central and southwest Florida through the coming week. This moisture combined with an upper-level disturbance over the region will bring widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms with the potential for some locally heavy rainfall.

The NWS is reminding residents to not enter or cross flowing water or water of unknown depth. Cars can easily be swept away and river banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe.

Pasco County residents can download the county's hurricane guide by clicking here.

Residents are also urged to sign up for Alert Pasco, the county's emergency notification system.

Pasco County has produced a video to help residents to prepare for hurricane season.