The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay has issued a flood warning for the Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 64 after heavy rainfall pushed the river above bankfull. As of 9:15 p.m. Thursday, the river stage sat at 9.9 feet. Bankfull is 7.0 feet, and flood stage is 11.0 feet. The river is forecast to crest at 11.2 feet Friday morning, which puts it just into minor flood territory, before falling back below flood stage by Friday evening. The warning is in effect from Friday morning through late Friday night.
The areas to watch are the rural Kibler community and properties with private roads or bridges roughly one mile downstream from Myakka Head. Agricultural land in Manatee County may also see standing water in low fields. If you’re in one of those spots, this is a good morning to move vehicles, tractors, and outdoor equipment to higher ground, and to plan alternate routes if your usual road dips low.
Above all, never drive or walk through flooded water. Depth and current are impossible to judge from behind the wheel, and it only takes about a foot of moving water to carry a vehicle off the road. The river should be back within its banks by Friday evening, but until then, give the water the respect it’s asking for. Do you live or work out near Myakka Head? Let us know how the river looks in your area.
