Weather Alert: NWS issues flood warning for Steinhatchee River (UPDATED)

Posted on July 22, 2013

UPDATE (7/22/13, 1:20 p.m.):

The National Weather Service has extended the flood warning for the Steinhatchee River until this evening.

According to the warning, at 12:36 p.m., minor flooding was still likely occurring along the Steinhatchee River near Northeast River Road.

The river is not expected to crest at the gauge site at U.S. 19 until this evening and then begin a slow fall. Flooding impacts are expected to remain minor and remain confined to low lying areas immediately adjacent to the river.

“Residents and motorists in the area along the Steinhatchee River should closely monitor flooding and road conditions,” the warning stated. “Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to disable a vehicle. When encountering flooded roads make the smart choice, turn around, don’t drown.”

The full warning is below:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A

FLOOD WARNING FOR,
NORTHWESTERN DIXIE COUNTY IN FLORIDA,
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN TAYLOR COUNTY IN FLORIDA,
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF STEINHATCHEE,

UNTIL 1230 AM EDT

AT 1236 PM EDT,MINOR FLOODING WAS STILL LIKELY OCCURRING ALONG
THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER NEAR NORTHEAST RIVER ROAD. THE RIVER IS NOT
EXPECTED TO CREST AT THE GAGE SITE AT HIGHWAY 19 UNTIL THIS
EVENING AND THEN BEGIN A SLOW FALL. FLOODING IMPACTS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN MINOR AND REMAIN CONFINED TO LOW LYING AREAS
IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE RIVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS,

RESIDENTS AND MOTORISTS IN THE AREA ALONG THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER
SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR FLOODING AND ROAD CONDITIONS. FLOOD WATERS
ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER
IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DISABLE A VEHICLE. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE,TURN AROUND,DON’T DROWN.

REPORT FLOODING OR FLOOD DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR,YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

ORIGINAL STORY:

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for extreme southern Taylor County, including the community of Steinhatchee.

According to the NWS, minor flooding was occurring along the Steinhatchee River near River Road.

The river is expected to crest at the NWS guage located near U.S. 19 around this afternoon and then begin a slow fall.

Residents along the river are urged monitor road and flooding conditions.

The full warning is below:

FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1213 AM EDT MON JUL 22 2013

FLC029-123-221630-
/O.EXT.KTAE.FA.W.0031.000000T0000Z-130722T1630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TAYLOR FL-DIXIE FL-
1213 AM EDT MON JUL 22 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN DIXIE COUNTY IN FLORIDA...
  EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN TAYLOR COUNTY IN FLORIDA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF STEINHATCHEE...

* UNTIL 1230 PM EDT

* AT 1210 AM EDT...MINOR FLOODING WAS STILL LIKELY OCCURRING ALONG
  THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER NEAR NORTHEAST RIVER ROAD. THE RIVER IS NOT
  EXPECTED TO CREST AT THE GAGE SITE AT HIGHWAY 19 UNTIL THIS
  AFTERNOON AND THEN BEGIN A SLOW FALL. FLOODING IMPACTS ARE
  EXPECTED TO REMAIN MINOR AND REMAIN CONFINED TO LOW LYING AREAS
  IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE RIVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RESIDENTS AND MOTORISTS IN THE AREA ALONG THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER
SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR FLOODING AND ROAD CONDITIONS. FLOOD WATERS
ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER
IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DISABLE A VEHICLE. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DON`T DROWN.

REPORT FLOODING OR FLOOD DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 2965 8340 2968 8342 2969 8339 2975 8336
      2982 8333 2982 8329 2966 8336

$$

42-DVD

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