Nine flood alerts issued as Scotland set to be battered by heavy rain over the weekend

Heavy rain is forecast to batter parts of Scotland with flood warnings in place across much of the country.

Heavy downpours are set to drench Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway as well as the Borders.

The warning is in place from Friday, December 8, at 6pm until Saturday, December 9, at 9pm.

The Scottish Environment Proctection Agency has issued nine flood alerts and five flood warnings.

⚠️ Yellow weather warning issued ⚠️

Heavy rain across northern parts of Northern Ireland and the southwest of Scotland

Risk of flooding and travel disruption

Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs

Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/9LF8JvHdCH
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 8, 2023

The most serious risk of flooding is at the River Isla at Coupar Angus, Kemphill to Bridge of Isla, Bridge of Ruthven to Leitfie and Aberbothrie in Tayside, and Churchill Barriers in Orkney.

Bands of heavy rain will move east across southwest Scotland through Friday night, turning more persistent on Saturday, before clearing during the evening.

Forecasters have said that there will be around 30-50 mm of rain falling widely, and possibly 60-80 mm over higher ground.

The Met Office has warned that some homes and businesses in the affected areas could experience flooding.

Flooding on roads could make journey times longer for those travelling by car or bus.

There is also the risk there could be some interruption to power supplies.

Insight Philip Petrie Weather presenter

Over the next few days low pressure is dominating Scotland, giving us spells of wet and windy weather through the weekend and into the start of next week.

Overnight Friday and into Saturday a frontal system moves in from the south, stalls across central Scotland and brings with it heavy and persistent rain. So unfortunately it will be a miserable start to the weekend. The rain will be particularly heavy across parts of the south west and this is why the Met Office have decided to issue today’s yellow weather warning.

Most of the warning zone covers some of the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway however parts of Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Argyll & Bute could see some disruptive rain leading to localised flooding and surface water on the roads.

The warning runs until 9pm Saturday night, after which time the rain eases, turns more showery overnight into Sunday. By Monday we get a brief respite as things turn drier, and we could even see some brighter, sunny intervals with one or two scattered showers.

At the moment there is no sign of things changing to wintry and snowy conditions.