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More rain expected in Tampa Bay area today

News Channel 8 file photo by ERIC HAUSMANN

The rain will start over the Gulf and move onshore, and the storms will be moving generally to the east.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2009

TAMPA - You can look for another round of potential thunderstorms and a good chance of rain today around the Tampa Bay area and an even better shot a both any place from Hernando County north.

There's an area of low pressure stalled over northern Florida that's sweeping in rain and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. That means the rain can show up any time today but more likely from about noon on.

Like Tuesday, the rain will start over the Gulf and move onshore, and the storms will be moving generally to the east.

Chances for rain and thunderstorms jump from around 30 percent to 40 percent in the mornings to 60 percent in the afternoons in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

From Hernando north, the afternoon chance for rain hits 70 percent.

However, the National Weather Service says there's only a slim chance for those thunderstorms to reach the severe level. Some could be packing gusts up to 40 mph, but the heavier storms are more likely north of the Bay area.

The weather service has issued a flood watch for Citrus and Levy counties that will last through Thursday. Forecasters say most places in those counties could see 2 to 4 inches of rain, but places where thunderstorms line up and march over in a parade – what meteorologists call "training" – might see up to 7 inches of rain.

The question forecasters face the rest of the week is how far south that stalled low pressure will sag. By Thursday, the flood watch may be extended to Hernando or even Pasco counties.

Through Friday, expect the heaviest rain to taper off in the evenings before starting up again in the early mornings.

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