A Met Office amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for parts of northeast Scotland, raising concerns about potential flooding, power cuts, and disruptions to transportation.
The warning, which will be in effect from midnight tonight until 6 pm, covers areas including Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Fife, Perth & Kinross, Stirling, the Highlands, Eilean Siar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. This follows a broader yellow warning for rain already in place across most of northeast Scotland from 6 pm on Wednesday until 11:59 pm on Friday.
The Met Office has cautioned that properties and businesses in the affected regions are likely to experience flooding. There may also be delays or cancellations to public transport, and some communities could become isolated. Drivers have been advised to take extra care, and the possibility of power cuts has also been highlighted.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued a flood warning for the Churchill Barriers in the Orkney Islands, as well as six less severe flood alerts in parts of northeast and central Scotland.
The Scottish Government’s multi-agency response team will be closely monitoring the situation as the weather conditions worsen.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop urged travellers to plan their journeys carefully and check for updates on the Transport Scotland website, social media channels, and radio broadcasts. ScotRail has also implemented speed restrictions on its Perth to Inverness and Aberdeen to Inverness routes due to the forecast.
Ferry operator CalMac has cancelled all Oban-Coll-Tiree services on Thursday, and some other services may be subject to cancellations or delays at short notice.
Police Scotland has advised drivers to exercise extra caution and avoid non-essential travel until road conditions improve. Motorists are encouraged to ensure their vehicles are equipped for the conditions and to stay informed of any road closures or warnings.
