The areas affected include. Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM. Waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 to 60 NM. At 210 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm, capable of producing winds to around 30 knots. This thunderstorm was located 13 nm south of Cedar Key, moving east at 50 knots.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 244 UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON WHICH REPLACES A PORTION OF TORNADO WATCH 243. THE NEW WATCH IS VALID FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS TAMPA BAY WATERS COASTAL WATERS FROM TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER FL OUT 20 NM COASTAL WATERS FROM ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS FL OUT 20 NM

* WHAT. Dangerous rip currents expected. * WHERE. Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN. Through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 244 UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON WHICH REPLACES A PORTION OF TORNADO WATCH 243. THE NEW WATCH IS VALID FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN FLORIDA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA POLK SUMTER IN NORTHERN FLORIDA LEVY IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA CITRUS HERNANDO HILLSBOROUGH MANATEE PASCO PINELLAS THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BAYSHORE GARDENS, BEVERLY HILLS, BRADENTON, BRANDON, BRONSON, BROOKSVILLE, BUSHNELL, CEDAR KEY, CHIEFLAND, CITRUS SPRINGS, CLEARWATER, DADE CITY, FANNING SPRINGS, FLORAL CITY, HERNANDO, HOLIDAY, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, HUDSON, INVERNESS, JASMINE ESTATES, LAKE PANASOFFKEE, LAKELAND, LAND O LAKES, LARGO, LECANTO, NEW PORT RICHEY, PALMETTO, SPRING HILL, ST. PETERSBURG, TAMPA, THE VILLAGES, WILDWOOD, WILLISTON, WINTER HAVEN, AND ZEPHYRHILLS.