Another day, another downpour floods St. Petersburg's streets

ST. PETERSBURG — This is getting repetitive.

Once again, a series of thunderstorms tore through St. Petersburg, this time on Friday evening, resulting in street flooding throughout the city. Some roads were closed and some vehicles left stranded.

The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for Southeast Pinellas through 7:30 p.m. Friday, indicating that areas including Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, and Gulfport were all at risk of flooding.

RELATED STORY: Vinoy hotel valet garage floods, possibly damaging dozens of vehicles

This marks the second day of flooding in the area. On Thursday, heavy rains also led to in low-lying areas across St. Petersburg. The city said 3.6 inches of rain were recorded within a single hour Thursday. Heavy rains and high tide helped create the conditions that led to the flooding of a valet garage at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, apparently damaging dozens of vehicles.

By 6:30 p.m. Friday, a stretch of Fifth Avenue N near the Interstate 275 ramp was flooded, with the water level reaching the bumpers of some vehicles trying to traverse the flood street.

Roads in low-lying areas in north St. Petersburg were also submerged. By 7 p.m., police had blocked off Ninth Street N at 62nd Avenue N, where flood waters completely covered the intersection and started to intrude upon the lawns of houses bordering the street.

The city announced earlier Friday afternoon that crews were working to clear debris from storm drains and encouraged residents to do the same. The stormwater drainage system is working as intended, the city statement said.

Staff writers Amy Hollyfield and Sara DiNatale contributed to this report. Contact Aaron Holmes at 706-347-1880 or aholmes@tampabay.com. Follow @aaronpholmes.