Flood Warning In Effect For Hillsborough County Through Saturday

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.

See related story: Cristobal Downgraded; May Still Produce Tropical Storm Winds

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.

"At this time, Tropical Depression Cristobal does not pose a threat to Florida but we can expect locally heavy rains," said Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley Jr. "We'll be monitoring flooding as this storm continues to move throughout the weekend."

Hillsborough County residents can click here for information on:

• Preparing a disaster supply kit
• Downloading the county's Disaster Planning Guide
• Signing up for the HCFL Alert
• Finding your evacuation zone
• Registering for a special needs shelter
• Protecting your property from flooding
• Evacuation zones