CLEARWATER -- Tampa Bay area officials are getting ready for the first big rain event of the wet season.
Tropical moisture is forecast to bring six to ten inches to rain to the immediate region, with heavier totals going south.
Street flooding is possible with sudden cloubursts. Pinellas County floodplain administrator Lisa Foster says county workers have been clearing storm drains. In Hillsborough County, George Stewart with emergency management reminds us to turn around and don't drown by not driving through standing water.
Pinellas county's Ashley Giovanetti says the rain event won't stop beach renourishment at Pass-a-Grille, although it may lead to delays that are built into the schedule.
This system shouldn't require sandbags, but if you need them, Pinellas has opened a new self-serve sandbag site at 28th Street North in St. Petersburg near the recycling center. The limit is 10 bags per househould from 6 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Hear more from Foster and Giovanetti in our "Beyond the News" podcast below.
Follow the system at the Max Defender 8 site on this link:
Photo: Getty Images (2023)