Weather alert: Strong thunderstorms hit Manatee, Sarasota counties

A brash of harsh weather is expected to hit central Manatee and northeastern Sarasota counties Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service announced in a special weather statement.

Around 1:24 p.m., radar showed strong thunderstorms from Ellenton to Myakka River State Park, NWS said. Winds could reach up to 30 mph, and torrential rain may cause flooding.

The service said the storm is moving northeast at 15 miles per hour.

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Weather alert: Strong thunderstorms hit Manatee, Sarasota counties."