ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — National Weather Service forecasters issued a flood advisory for areas hardest hit by heavy thunderstorms Thursday morning.
The advisory for Pinellas and Sarasota counties has since expired, but one runs through 1 p.m. for Manatee County. At least 2-4 inches of rain have fallen and more is expected as storms roll in from the Gulf of Mexico.
Urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected, forecasters said. Standing water could linger on roadways throughout the day. The biggest impacts from this advisory include minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas with water over roadways, according to the weather service.
Thursday's showers and storms are causing significant traffic delays around the Tampa Bay area. NWS says the following locations in Pinellas County are expected to experience flooding:
- Tampa
- Clearwater
- Largo
- Pinellas Park
- Seminole
- St. Petersburg
- South Highpoint
- Feather Sound
- Ridgecrest
- Harbor Bluffs
- West And East Lealman
- Bay Pines
- Gandy
- East Lake
- Safety Harbor
- Oldsmar
- Treasure Island,
- Kenneth City
- Madeira Beach
- Belleair
For Sarasota County, the following areas will experience flooding:
- Myakka River State Park
- Oscar Scherer State Park
- Nokomis
- Laurel
- Osprey
- Vamo
- Turtle Beach
For Manatee County, the following areas will experience flooding:
- Sarasota
- Bradenton
- Palmetto
- Fort Desoto Park
- Anna Maria
- Ellenton
- Memphis
- West Samoset
- Parrish
- South Bradenton
- West Bradenton
- Lakewood Ranch
- Sarasota Bradenton Airport
- North Sarasota
- The Meadows
- Kensington Park
- Holmes Beach
- Bradenton Beach
- Samoset
- Oneco
NWS warns drivers to run around when encountering flooded roads, as most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
