Tropical Storm Colin dumped several inches of rain across the Tampa Bay area.
A tropical storm warning and flood watch was in effect through Monday.
Rain totals were expected to range from 4 to 8 inches near the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area, tapering to 2 inches further inland and to the east.
Maximum sustained winds were measured at 50 mph, with a gust of 60 mph reported in Venice.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm will continue to move at a faster speed into Tuesday, with the center making landfall at Florida's Big Bend Monday evening.
Coastal hazards included a minor storm surge of 1 to 2 feet Monday evening. In addition to this rise in the water level, wave heights of 4 to 8 feet could cause minor damage to docks and boats not protected from the unsettled waters.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 34 Florida counties as Tropical Storm Colin approached the state from the Gulf of Mexico.
The counties in the governor's declaration included the Tampa Bay region, much of the Panhandle, central Florida and the counties along the Atlantic beaches in northeast Florida.
Scott said the Florida National Guard was on standby with 6,000 guardsmen ready to respond if needed.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s office planned to ramp up patrol Monday night and Tuesday to deter looters who target homes and businesses.
“If you’re a looter and you’re trying to take advantage of the situation, I promise you there’s plenty of room at the Land O’ Lakes jail,” Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. “You will be arrested, you will be taken to jail and possibly you’ll be sandbagging for others tomorrow.”
The county’s numerous sandbag locations are often staffed with inmates who help fill the bags.
Nocco said the sheriff’s office was also working with government officials to make sure unlicensed contractors do not take advantage of homeowners and businesses that suffer storm damage.
Road Closures
The Skyway Bridge was closed Monday morning and remained closed into the evening.
Bayshore Boulevard from Rome to Platt streets was closed due to flooding.
The Bayshore Boulevard entrance to MacDill Air Force Base was closed due to flooding.
For a complete list of road closures in Tampa, visit an interactive map.
Also, Florida's 511 system has information about traffic conditions, including road closures, emergency alerts, evacuation routes and toll suspensions. Download the free mobile app or call 511 for updates.
Tampa International Airport
The airport was reporting delays and cancelations. Travelers should check with their airlines before flying.
Power
Duke Energy and Teco Energy were reporting widely scattered power outages.
Duke Energy said Monday afternoon that it had 3,256 customers without electricity, while Tampa Electric Company said on its website that 5,346 people were experiencing outages. Florida Power and Light reported more than 14,000 customers without power in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
