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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
1100 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

To:      Subscribers – Family of Services and NOAA Weather Wire
         Service and other National Weather Service Partners,
         Users and Employees


From:    Austen Flannery - Senior Service Hydrologist


Subject: Upgrading River Forecast Services from Flood-only to
         Daily Issuance for the Manatee River near Myakka
         Head (MKHF1)


Effective May 18, 2026, the National Weather Service (NWS) Tampa
Bay office in coordination with the Southeast River Forecast
Center (SERFC) will upgrade hydrologic services for the Manatee
River near Myakka Head. Services will transition from “flood-only”
forecasts to daily routine forecasts.

Previously, this location was designated as a flood-only forecast
point, meaning the five-day forecast was only provided by SERFC
hydrologists when river levels were expected to rise near or above
Minor Flood Stage. Following inquiries from partners and users,
the SERFC will now provide daily, year-round forecast information
for this site.

This transition provides several benefits:

* Enhanced Situational Awareness: Provides valuable data during
  drought and/or low flow conditions, not just flood events.

* Public Safety: Supports enhanced services for public safety and
  recreational interests along the river reach.

* Consistency: Daily modeling of points situated above existing
  forecast locations ensures a more seamless hydrologic profile
  across the river system.

The enhanced forecasts will be integrated into the existing SERFC
workflow and distributed through the local NWS office to the
online National Water Prediction Service (water.noaa.gov). Note:
This is the only NWS Tampa Bay forecast point that will transition
to a daily forecast frequency at this time. All other forecast
points will remain “flood-only” until further notice.

The following gauge will transition to daily issuance.

Florida Forecast Group

* Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 64 | MKHF1 | USGS 02299950

* This data can be accessed at water.noaa.gov/gauges/MKHF1

For questions regarding these changes, please contact:

Austen Flannery
Senior Service Hydrologist, NWS Tampa Bay
Email: austen.flannery@noaa.gov
Office phone: 813-645-2323

$$