Coastal Flood Watch Issued For 4 Tampa Bay Area Counties

SARASOTA, FL — The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood watch for several counties in the Tampa Bay area as a cold front heads into the region. The flood watch covers Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

According to the weather service, the watch begins at 2 a.m. Wednesday, May 24 and will remain in place through Thursday morning. Forecasters anticipate water will rise one to two feet above normal tide levels in those areas.

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A coastal flood watch means that conditions are ripe for flooding to develop.

“Coastal residents should be alert for later statements or warnings and take action to protect property,” the agency’s watch alert warned.

In addition to the flood watch, the weather service is also warning of high rip current risks expected to remain in place in coastal areas until Thursday. Rip currents are strong channels of water that flow away from shore. These currents pose a hazard to swimmers, who are advised to “heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol, flags and signs.”

The Tampa Bay area is expected to feel the cold front’s biggest impacts on Wednesday when forecasters say windy conditions and thunderstorms are likely throughout the day into the overnight hours. The day’s high is expected to reach only the low 80s with an overnight low in the low 70s likely.

The front “is expected to bring the threat of widespread heavy rainfall and a few strong/severe storms late Tuesday night through Wednesday night,” the weather service’s Tampa Bay office warned on Facebook Tuesday morning. “The main weather threats during this period will be localized flooding, damaging winds, and the potential for isolated tornadoes.”

Wind speeds of up to 33 knots are expected on Gulf of Mexico waters. Small craft operators are being warned to reconsider venturing out onto area lakes and along coastal areas until the front passes by.

Waterspouts are also a concern. In Tuesday’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report, forecasters wrote that atmospheric conditions would be ripe for their development on Wednesday. “Mariners should be on the lookout for waterspouts,” the service warned.

Thursday is also anticipated to start off with stormy conditions. The day’s high is forecast to reach the low 80s. By the evening hours, however, forecasters expect storms to clear out of the region. A clear night with a low in the upper 60s is expected. Friday is expected to bring a return of sunshine.

Patch file photo