Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued this evening at 1100 PM EDT.

The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Florida... Alafia River At Lithia affecting Hillsborough County. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Florida... Little Manatee River At Wimauma at US 301 affecting Hillsborough County. Manatee River At Rye Bridge affecting Manatee County. Manatee River Near Myakka Head at SR 64 affecting Manatee County. Myakka River At Myakka River State Park affecting Sarasota County. Peace River At Zolfo Springs at SR 17 affecting Hardee County. Peace River At Arcadia at SR 70 affecting DeSoto County. Peace River At Bartow affecting Polk County. Horse Creek Near Arcadia at SR 72 affecting DeSoto County. .Heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Ian continues to cause major flooding issues along many area rivers. For the Alafia...including Lithia , Riverview near US 301...Moderate flooding is forecast. For the Little Manatee...including Wimauma at US 301...Major flooding is forecast. For the Manatee...including Myakka Head at SR 64, Rye Bridge...Minor flooding is forecast. For the Myakka...including Myakka River State Park...Major flooding is forecast. For the Peace...including Bartow, Zolfo Springs at SR 17, Arcadia at SR 70...Major flooding is forecast. For the Horse Creek...including Arcadia at SR 72...Major flooding is forecast. ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Manatee River At Rye Bridge. * WHEN...Until late this evening. * IMPACTS...At 12.8 feet, Water reaches the roadbed of the Old Rye Bridge. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:15 AM EDT Friday the stage was 14.4 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 9:15 AM EDT Friday was 16.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage late this afternoon and continue falling to 5.0 feet Monday morning. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 14.4 feet on 07/22/1974. - https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Fld Observed Forecasts (8 am EDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Manatee River Rye Bridge 11.0 14.4 Fri 9 am 5.8 5.2 5.0 4.9 4.9 &&