HERNANDO BEACH, Fla. — Conditions are returning to normal in the northern part of the Bay area as voluntary evacuations have been lifted in Hernando County and schools will be open Friday in Citrus County. 

Officials have been keeping a close eye on water levels across the Nature Coast during Hurricane Michael.

Floodwaters covered low-lying roads in Hernando Beach Thursday morning, which was anticipated at high tide.  

Those were the last of the Michael-related concerns across the Citrus-Hernando region by Thursday morning as the heavy rains and high tides created flooding in some areas. 

Other spots of concern were road off King's Bay, some of which saw about an additional six inches to a foot of water.  

Officials said the water would recede quickly and things should return to normal later in the day Thursday. 

"I guess you could say the worst has passed," said resident Lee Alexander. "We should be seeing a reduction in the level of water that's produced at each high tide. So we should be in a much better place now than we were yesterday." 

Shelters that were open in Citrus County for the hurricane will close on Thursday and Crystal River officials said normal operations will be back by this afternoon.