Strong Storm Targets FL, Prompting Flood Advisories, Warnings: Latest Timeline

FLORIDA — A coastal flood advisory is in effect for several Florida counties as a storm bringing heavy rains, thunderstorms and gusty winds bears down on the Sunshine State.

Clouds and showers rolled into the Tampa Bay area Saturday morning, but conditions are expected to deteriorate Saturday evening and overnight before eventually clearing on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's a look at the updated storm timeline for the Tampa Bay area, according to the NWS:

Saturday: Showers will turn into periods of rain with possible thunderstorms. Breezy, with an east wind of 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday Night: Expect showers, thunderstorms and strong winds from 16 to 21 mph with gusts as high as 33 mph. Thunderstorms will end late and give way to scattered showers. Expect 1-2 inches of rain.

Sunday: Showers will end in the morning. Clouds will give way to partly sunny skies. Expect winds ranging from 15 to 18 mph with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Expect partly cloudy skies and winds between 10 to 13 mph with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Forecasters on Saturday upgraded a flood watch to an advisory covering coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee and Pinellas counties. The advisory means flooding is likely in low-lying areas and other spots like parking lots, parks and roads.

The advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday, according to the NWS.

The NWS also issued two additional advisories for coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee and Pinellas counties. A high surf advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Monday, while a high rip current risk will be in effect from late Saturday night until Monday morning.

“No one should be on the water today,” National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Shiveley told the Tampa Bay Times. “We’ve issued gale warnings, winds could hit 40 mph overnight. And we’ll be seeing high surf and rip currents through Monday.”

About three inches of rain is expected to fall by morning, Shiveley told the Times.

The Alafia River in Hillsborough County remains under a flood warning through Sunday. Coastal flooding combined with heavy rainfall is expected to cause the river to rise to moderate flood stage, peaking Saturday night into Sunday morning.

“The Alafia River, at U.S. 301 in Riverview, is the only inland area we’re concerned about,” Shiveley told the Times. “It could rise to five feet and impact that bridge.”

In South Florida, a flood watch will remain in effect through Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Miami. Isolated strong storms could begin as early as Saturday afternoon, though severe weather and flooding will likely hit the area between 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. Sunday, NWS Miami said.

"Besides the already gusty winds across the area, strong showers and thunderstorms could contain locally higher severe gusts, heavy downpours, and frequent cloud to ground lightning. A few tornadoes will be possible as well," forecasters wrote on social media.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday said he activated the Florida State Guard in preparation for any severe weather impacts. The Florida Division of Emergency Management was also directed to prepare flood responses in the event of coastal and inland flooding.