Tampa Swamped By Flooding Rains Friday (PHOTOS)

A deluge in Tampa stranded drivers in rising water Friday, and police turned to high water emergency vehicles to fish people out of the mess.

The heavy rain began just before 9 a.m. As much as 7 inches was recorded by 1 p.m. in some spots, according to weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman.

The flooding started a few hours before graduation ceremonies at the University of South Florida. Some roads around campus were momentarily flooded, but by 1:45 p.m., the university said most of the the flooding had subsided.

(MORE: They Lost Everything to Floods)

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of Hillsborough County.

Police responded to dozens of calls about flooded vehicles. WFLA reports officials have asked people to avoid the following intersections because of high water:

• Nebraska/Hanna
• Bougainvillea/30th
• Florida/Linebaugh
• 56th Street at Fowler Ave & Busch Boulevard

Erdman says the heavy rain is also expected in Sarasota and Orlando.

This is just the beginning of what is forecast to be a wet weekend. More showers and thunderstorms are possible Saturday, but the weather should start drying out by Sunday.