More rain is falling in parts of the Tampa Bay area, and a flood warning for the Anclote River at Elfers in southwest Pasco County has been extended until Thursday afternoon.

Tonight's weather headlines:

  • Flood advisory issued for central Hillsborough County and southern Pinellas County until 10:45 p.m.
  • Anclote River flood warning extended until Thursday
  • Flood warning issued for Cypress Creek from late tonight through Saturday morning

The heaviest rains overnight will be near coastal zones while inland areas get a brief lull in the activity.

Morning lows will be in the mid to upper 70s. 

High moisture content in the atmosphere combined with a nearly stationary low pressure on top of us will lead to numerous showers and storms across the region again Tuesday. That will result in lots of clouds, which will keep the highs below average in the mid 80s.

Some areas will see localized flooding again as bands of rain come in from the Gulf.

There will be a risk of rip currents at area beaches due to an onshore breeze.

Parts of Pasco County have received upwards of 12 inches of rain since Friday, and much of the region has received at least six inches. A flood watch is in effect through Tuesday evening for Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

Also, a flood warning has been issued for Cypress Creek at Worthington Gardens from late tonight through Saturday morning. That's in northern Hillsborough and south-central Pasco County, where I-275 and I-75 merge. The creek's flood stage is 8 feet, and the water level is expected to reach 8.3 feet by early Thursday.

At 12:10 p.m., portions of southwestern Pasco County had received two more inches of rain. This will cause additional flooding and worsen existing flooding in the area covered by the advisory. Areas that will experience additional flooding include Elfers, New Port Richey, Holiday, Beacon Square Jasmine Estates, New Port Richey East, Trinity and Bayonet Point.

Showers and storms have been moving in from the Gulf of Mexico and impacting parts of Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Some areas could receive several more inches of rain over the next few days.

Several streets in southwest Pasco County remain flooded, and hundreds of homes along the Anclote River, where a mandatory evacuation was ordered Sunday, are at risk.

The evacuation zone borders State Road 54 to the north, Ella Lane to the south, Dellefield Street and Riverbank Drive to the east and Glenside Drive to the west. It covered 320 homes and two businesses.

The Anclote River created around 4:30 a.m. at 23.6 feet, or 3.6 feet above the flood stage and approaching the major flood stage threshold. The river last flooded during Tropical Debby in 2012.

AAA is urging motorists to be cautious. Nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes occur each year on wet pavement, with more than a half million injuries and 5,700 deaths, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The ground remains saturated in the watch area due to heavy rains the past couple of days. Any additional heavy rain will trigger areal flooding of urban areas, streets, and low lying areas - especially across northern Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and Pasco County.

With the Anclote River, a rise in the water level usually happens six to eight hours after a heavy rain.

Anclote River Estates is part of an evacuation order. Heavy rain pounded the area for the better part of three days and officials say all 321 homes in Anclote River Estates are at risk.
 
"I urge people to listen to the warning," said Emergency Management Center Director Anette Doying. "In Tropical Storm Debby, this very same neighborhood was the sight of our single drowning fatality and that's not to be taken lightly. So this is an area for significant danger for the people in the lowest part of that area." 

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter for affected residents in the evacuation area. The shelter is located at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Richey, at 7540 Ridge Road, Port Richey.

Staging for residents in need of transportation to the shelter will take place at Bealls Outlet store at 7101 S.R. in New Port Richey.

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Pasco County sand bag locations

Southwest Pasco County is one of the most flood-prone areas in the region, and the county is offering sand bags in the following locations:

  • Fire Station #17, 2951 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey 
  • West Pasco Government Center, 7536 State Street, New Port Richey 
  • J.W. Mitchell Park, 4025 Little Rd., New Port Richey
  • Across from the Fleet Maintenance Building, 6420 Pine Hill Road, New Port Richey.

Pasco officials are urging residents to visit the county's Emergency Management web page and monitor Pasco County main page for press releases at www.pascocountyfl.net.

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