Thursday, December 20, 2018

COASTAL FLOODING WARNING CONTINUES FOR LEVY COUNTY FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR ALL OF LEVY COUNTY

The following information is a joint release from the Levy County Sheriff's Office and the Levy County Department of Emergency Management:


Several watches and warnings are currently in effect for Levy County with many areas expected to experience some type of flooding.

River Flooding: Areas along the Suwannee River from Fanning Springs to Fowlers Bluff can expect a continued river rise that has the potential of flooding some homes and causing some roads to become impassable.  Residents and visitors along the Suwannee River should monitor river levels closely and take necessary protective actions to protect their property.  Real time river levels can be viewed by visiting https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/forecasts.php?wfo=tbw

Coastal Flooding:  Our biggest area of concern for the next couple of days is the elevated chance of coastal flooding in Cedar Key and Yankeetown.  The National Weather Service has issued a 1 in 10 chance of experiencing a 5.3ft MSL influx of water at high tide with a 1 in 2 chance of experiencing 4.8ft MSL overnight Thursday into Friday morning in Cedar Key and up to 6.5ft MSL in Yankeetown.  It is absolutely vital that residents and visitors monitor coastal flooding closely and be prepared to take action should the flood levels threaten your property.  Tide levels can be viewed by visiting https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/

Inland Flooding:  Inland areas of Levy County should expect up to 4 inches of additional rain.  Continued rainfall for the next 24 hours will cause additional flooding issues in areas that are prone to flooding or are already saturated.  Areas that are already saturated or are prone to flooding should make sure that their property is protected now.  You can monitor your local weather stations by visiting www.LevyWeather.com  

Boat Ramp Closures:  All boat ramps along the Suwannee River are currently closed until river levels return to a safe level.

SR 24 at the Number 4 Bridge will be closed to traffic at 10 PM tonight and will remain closed until flood waters recede.

Public Information:  Public Information Lines are open by calling 352-486-5155