HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 459 PM EST FRI FEB 18 2005
...SPRING FLOOD OUTLOOK FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...
BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED ACROSS THE REGION SINCE NOVEMBER...WITH RAINFALL DEFICITS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES IN MANY AREAS. THIS HAS ALLOWED ALL RIVERS AND STREAMS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA TO DROP TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW CLIMATIC NORMALS FOR LATE WINTER. THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER FORECAST IS FOR NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL FOR THE PERIOD MARCH TO MAY. GIVEN THIS...RIVERS AND STREAMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE A VERY SLOW FALL UNTIL THE RAINY SEASON BEGINS IN JUNE. THIS IS CLIMATICALLY NORMAL DURING THE FLORIDA DRY SEASON.
THE THREAT OF SPRING FLOODING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REMAINS LOW.
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