NWS flood warning continues for Withlacoochee River at Dunnellon

The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay/Ruskin continued a Flood Warning on Saturday morning, Sept. 19, for the Withlacoochee River at U.S. 41 in Dunnellon, affecting Levy, Marion, and Citrus counties. The 9:50 a.m. EDT statement said the warning remains in effect until further notice for minor flooding. At 8:45 a.m. EDT Saturday the stage was 28.2 feet — flood stage and bankfull — with docks and boat ramps along the river in Citrus and Marion counties subject to flooding at that level. NWS urged motorists not to drive through flooded areas or around barricades and cautioned people walking near riverbanks.

NWS said the river has been rising steadily since July and reached flood stage on Sept. 15. The high water is tied to excessive hydrilla growth from the river bottom to the surface along a roughly 4.5-mile stretch between U.S. 41 and Lake Rousseau; the vegetation is acting like a dam and holding water back. The Citrus County Chronicle reported that Citrus County Emergency Management Director Hillary Whirle, working with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, identified the backup west of U.S. 41 toward the Goldendale boat ramp and noted the local stage was about 18 inches higher than readings farther downstream at the Inglis Dam gage. Officials had initially looked at heavy rain in the Green Swamp area of Polk County, but the hydrilla restriction is the main local driver called out in the warning.

Separately, the National Hurricane Center’s 8:00 a.m. EDT Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook for Saturday, Sept. 19, monitors Eastern Subtropical Atlantic low AL99 several hundred miles southwest of the western Azores. Formation chance is high at 90 percent through 48 hours and through seven days; a short-lived tropical depression or storm is expected later today or tonight while remaining well southwest of the Azores, with upper-level winds becoming less conducive beginning late Sunday. That system carries no Florida tropical watch or warning. South Florida still faces elevated afternoon storm and localized urban flooding risk through the weekend under a separate NWS Miami forecast (covered in today’s earlier Restoration News post).

If river or stormwater enters a home or business, prompt extraction and drying matter in Florida humidity. Florida Restoration Specialists serves Central Florida water damage calls — water damage restoration and water extraction — or call (863) 588-6617.

Sources: NWS Tampa Bay/Ruskin Flood Warning — Withlacoochee at U.S. 41 Dunnellon (9:50 a.m. EDT Sept. 19), Citrus County Chronicle: River rising, but rain isn’t the whole story, NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook (8:00 a.m. EDT Sept. 19), NWS Miami Area Forecast Discussion (1:04 a.m. EDT Sept. 19).