Heavy rain batters Scotland as new weather warnings come into force

Large parts of Scotland are being hit with heavy rain as new yellow weather warnings come into force.

Forecasters predict up to 60mm of rainfall in some areas with disruption to transport and damage to homes and businesses possible.

Meteorologists warn about the risk of flood, particularly in southern Scotland and the south of the central lowlands, along with possible road closures on Tuesday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has 14 flood alerts and seven flood warnings in place. They can be found here.

The Met Office weather warning will hit nearly all of Scotland except the Highlands and Islands and will last from 1am on Tuesday until 6pm.

Flooding near Stepps means the slip road at junction 11 of the M8 is restricted, Amey said.

It comes just days after Storm Kathleen battered much of the country.

On Wednesday, another yellow rain warning will come into force, affecting most of the west and south west of Scotland which has been extended north and until 10pm that day.

The Met Office warned people to anticipate that bus and train journeys would take longer on both days, while drivers were told to be aware of spray and flooding on the roads adding additional travel time.

The Met Office warning for Tuesday said: “Fast-flowing or deep floodwater is possible, with one or two communities temporarily cut off by flooded roads.”

Cloud and rain will stall across parts of Scotland on Tuesday, it is predicted, but it will turn brighter elsewhere with scattered showers through the afternoon.

Unsettled conditions will continue into Wednesday as more cloud and rain arrives from the west and pushes eastwards throughout the day.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings, this more likely in southern Scotland and the south of the Central Lowlands.

“There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses. Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, together with possible delays or cancellations to train and bus services – most likely in the south of the warning area.

“Fast-flowing or deep floodwater is possible, with one or two communities temporarily cut off by flooded roads.”

Oli Claydon, meteorologist from the Met Office, added: “With the rain warnings, it’s just a case of knowing your flood risk. The rain pushes further north quite quickly before the wind comes into play.”

When and where are the yellow rain warnings this week?

The Met Office warning for rain on Tuesday from 1am until 6pm covers Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, the Borders, West Lothian, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Wednesday’s yellow rain warning will be in force from 9am to 6pm and will cover Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Where are the flood warnings?

SEPA has issued seven flood alerts on Tuesday covering Stonehaven; Culross, Longannet and Kincardine; Sanday; Ardmore to Loch Carnan, Locheport, Lochmaddy; and Stornoway.

SEPA has also issued 14 flood alerts covering Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen city; Fife; Orkney; Western Isles; Ayrshire and Arran; Central; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee and Angus; Edinburgh and Lothians; Findhorn Nairn Moray and Speyside, Scottish Borders, Shetland, Tayside; and West Central Scotland.

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