Tampa water officials say rain is needed in the Upper Alafia and Upper Hillsborough River basins.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Heavy rain flooded roads across parts of Pinellas County Monday morning, but Tampa Bay Water officials say those downpours alone won’t bring the region out of its ongoing Phase III drought.

Drivers encountered water-covered streets in St. Petersburg’s Snell Isle and Old Northeast neighborhoods, while heavy rain reduced visibility and created hazardous conditions on U.S. 19 in Clearwater.



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But despite the soggy morning commute, Tampa Bay Water says where the rain falls matters just as much as how much falls.

“Every bit of rain helps, but we need sustained rain in the upper river basins for it to make a real dent in our drought,” said Warren Hogg, chief science officer for Tampa Bay Water.

According to Hogg, most of this summer’s rain has fallen along the coast.

“For the first two months of the summer, almost all of our rain has been coastal, which is great,” Hogg said. “It does help bring demand down. People use less water in those areas, but it’s done nothing to replenish our water stores.”

Instead, officials say the rain needs to fall in the Upper Alafia and Upper Hillsborough River basins. Rain in those inland watersheds fills wetlands, increases river flows and allows Tampa Bay Water to capture and store water in the regional reservoir.

The regional reservoir is currently holding about 2.4 billion gallons of water — roughly 15% of its capacity. Tampa Bay Water’s goal is to increase that to 15.5 billion gallons by Oct. 1, the end of the rainy season.

RELATED: Tampa Bay’s water restrictions have been extended for 3 more months

The Southwest Florida Water Management District extended the region’s Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage through Oct. 1. Residents remain limited to watering their lawns no more than once a week.

Officials say residents can also help conserve water indoors by only running full loads of laundry and dishes, taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth.