Flood warning issued for Myakka River

After the weekend storms, the Myakka River could flood within the state park.

According to a report issued by the National Weather Service, the Myakka River at the Myakka River State Park is under a flood warning from today until Friday evening, Jan. 22.

The river is currently at 6.9 feet, with 7 feet being the stage at which flooding will occur.

At 7 feet, the trails, picnic areas and parking lots at Myakka State Park could flood. If the river should rise to 8 feet, the main road through Myakka State Park could flood, the report stated.

The last time the river crested at this height was August 1997 at 7.1 feet.

The flooding is the result of rain from last weekend, during the storms in Duette and the east Manatee County area, said Andrew McKaughan, a meteorologist for the Tampa Bay area National Weather Service office.

It only rained 1 to 2 inches during the storm, he said, and the forecast is calling for additional rain and thunderstorms tomorrow.

“It doesn’t take a whole lot,” he said.

Because the Myakka River is a slower river, it takes several days for excess rainfall up north to affect the river.

The flooding should remain isolated to the park, McKaughan said.

The Duette storm and upcoming thunderstorms are no surprise to the National Weather Service meteorologists in the Tampa Bay office—El Niño is in full force this year, and is partially responsible for the frequency of rain and storms this winter.

“It’s one of the strongest ones we’ve had on record,” McKaughan said.