Flooding potential increases for parts of SW Florida through the weekend

Manatee County has extended its State of Emergency more than 2 weeks after Hurricane Debby. New rains are expected to add insult to injury for water logged parts of southwest Florida after Debby caused extensive flooding in the area.

Sarasota County is also monitoring areas that are prone to flooding, especially in the wake of Hurricane Debby, which brought more than $100 million in damage, caused major flooding and resulted in more than 700 water rescues throughout both Sarasota and Manatee counties.

North Port will have bags and sand available for residents while supplies last. Make sure to bring your own shovel to this site. There is a 10 bag limit per car.

A stalled front draped across the state is creating a steady stream of rain and some tropical downpours across southwest Florida for the next several days. Widespread downpours that develop have the potential to bring in more flooding rains.

North Port has received between 3-7 inches of rainfall in some areas of the city over the past 24 hours. City staff is monitoring the rainfall and water levels as thunderstorms move through the area.

Late this weekend, the typical summer weather pattern returns with morning sunshine, hot afternoons, and a round of late-day thunderstorms.

Leslie Hudson is an experienced Multimedia Journalist and Digital Meteorologist whose career is marked by significant professional milestones. A trailblazer in the industry, she holds the distinction of being the first female AMS meteorologist in the Orlando market. Her extensive background in public safety and emergency management led to her being appointed by Florida’s Governor to the State of Florida’s Hurricane Catastrophic Fund Council from 2002 to 2007. Notably, she was the sole meteorologist in the state selected for this prestigious council.