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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