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Heavy Rains Today

Posted Jul 18, 2008 by Megan Hatton

Updated Jul 18, 2008 at 05:54 PM

Some of the same spots that saw rain yesterday were hammered with heavy rain again today.  Thursday’s rainfall totals in east Tampa were estimated between 2 and 4 inches by the National Weather Service.  VIPIR estimated that an additional 1 to 3 inches fell in the same area again today.  Heavy, but isolated, rain formed along a line from south Pinellas County to central Hillsborough County and following into north Polk County.  Cells that formed off the coast of Pinellas County traveled along the line moving northeast essentially along a track.  This is referred to as “training”.  There is an old boundary in place at the surface that is causing the shower and thunderstorm activity.  The boundary is forecast to move a bit to the north for Saturday keeping the best chance for rain from the Tampa Metro area north to Citrus County.  Although the atmosphere is drying you can expect heavy rainfall from these storms as they pass.  If you live south of the bay you still may see some thunderstorm action, just not as much.  Without the cooling rainfall folks in these areas will be HOT with temperatures in the low to mid 90s!