Sarasota could see heavy rain and localized flooding Thursday, while neighboring Manatee County is under a flood watch, as Hurricane Isaias moves north through the Gulf. Dangerous beach conditions are expected across the area Friday and Saturday.
The National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office said in a briefing issued at about 6:40 a.m. Oct. 8 that a stalled front would remain over the region Thursday, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall.
The flood watch covers Manatee County and areas north, including Sumter County. Sarasota County is not listed under the watch.
Isaias, meanwhile, was over the southern Gulf and expected to move north toward the northern Gulf Coast through Friday. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, according
to the National Hurricane Center advisory included in the briefing.
For Sarasota-area residents, the forecast brings concerns about rainfall and coastal conditions even with the storm’s center projected to remain offshore.
Sarasota rain forecast includes showers and a thunderstorm
AccuWeather forecasts a 97% chance of precipitation in Sarasota on Thursday, with thick cloud cover, humid conditions, showers and a thunderstorm.
The forecast calls for a high of 82 degrees and a low of 72, with southeast winds at 6 mph. AccuWeather projects about four hours of rain, though that figure describes duration rather than expected rainfall totals.
The weather service places Sarasota within a marginal risk area for excessive rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.
Dangerous rip currents expected Friday and Saturday
Swells from Isaias are expected to reach area beaches, with large seas and dangerous rip currents likely Friday into Saturday, the weather service said.
A coastal flood advisory extends from Citrus County through Tampa Bay. The briefing’s storm surge graphic shows potential water levels of 1 to 3 feet above ground along that stretch of coast.
A storm surge watch covers Levy County. The weather service expects to issue its next briefing by noon Thursday.
Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Hurricane Isaias raises Sarasota flood risk, beach dangers
