UK

Scots told to expect more heavy rain after weather warning extended

The River Don in Kintore as Storm Babet batters the country (PA)
The River Don in Kintore as Storm Babet batters the country (PA)

Floods are expected to hit parts of Scotland in the coming days after forecasters extended a weather warning for rain by 24 hours.

The latest Scottish Flood Forecast said “significant flooding impacts” are likely in the north east on Friday and Saturday due to more torrential downpours.

Meanwhile the Met Office has extended its latest warning for heavy rain over the area by a further 24 hours, meaning it will be in place over much of the weekend.

The latest yellow weather warning for rain covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, and Perth and Kinross – most of which saw prolonged downpours cause problems for residents last week, including flooding.

The warning was originally to run from 12pm on Thursday to 12pm on Saturday, but will now remain in place until 12pm on Sunday.

WEATHER Rain Scotland
(PA Graphics)

Seven people are known to have died in the UK during Storm Babet, including three people north of the border. They were Wendy Taylor, 57, of Perthshire; John Gillan, 56, of Arbroath; and Peter Pelling, 61, also of Arbroath.

Brechin in Angus was the worst affected area in north-east Scotland, and hundreds of homes had to be evacuated after the river South Esk breached its banks.

Resident evacuated
Members of the emergency services had to help residents to safety in Brechin last week during Storm Babet (PA)

The latest Scottish Flood Forecast update, issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said significant flooding impacts from rivers and surface water are likely in the north east on Friday and Saturday

There is also a risk of further impacts in areas recovering from recent flooding.

It said: “River levels are not expected to be as high as experienced during Storm Babet but as the rain will be falling onto already wet ground, flooding from surface water runoff may also cause impacts.

“Caithness and Sutherland, Easter Ross and Great Glen and the south west of Scotland may also experience some localised flooding due to persistent and heavy rain.”

Network Rail Scotland warned: “More extremely heavy rain is on the way. It won’t be to the levels from Storm Babet, but it will affect the same areas, already with saturated ground. It will bring a risk of flooding.”