Flood Advisory Issued for Central Florida Counties Until 5:15 PM
National Weather Service warns of urban flooding in Citrus and Sumter counties as heavy thunderstorms dump up to 4 inches of rain.
INVERNESS, FLORIDA — The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for parts of central and west central Florida on Sunday afternoon, warning residents of urban and small stream flooding due to excessive rainfall through 5:15 p.m.
The advisory affects Sumter County in central Florida and Citrus County in west central Florida, where Doppler radar detected heavy rain from thunderstorms at 3:10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin office.
Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have already fallen across the affected areas, with an additional 1 to 2 inches expected before the advisory expires. Weather officials warned the additional rainfall will lead to minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas, as well as water over roadways.
Communities at Risk
Multiple communities face potential flooding impacts, including Inverness, Inverness Airport, Inverness Highlands South, Inverness Highlands North, and Hernando. Other locations expected to experience flooding include Lake Panasoffkee, Coleman, Rutland, Withlapopka Isle, and Gospel Island.
Additional areas under the flood advisory encompass Inverness Highlands, Floral City, Wahoo, Arbor Lakes, Istachatta, River Lakes Manor, and Citrus Hills.
Safety Precautions
Residents in the affected counties should exercise caution when traveling and avoid driving through flooded roadways. The combination of already saturated ground conditions and continuing heavy rainfall creates hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians.
The flood advisory remains in effect until 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, with weather officials monitoring conditions across the region. Drivers are advised to find alternative routes when encountering water-covered roads and to remember that even shallow moving water can pose serious risks to vehicles.
