‘Risk to life’ from flooding remains as heavy rain continues in Scotland

Those in the north of Scotland have been warned there is still a “risk to life” from severe flooding while people in the south of the UK will have dry and warm conditions.

Scotland was hit by relentless rainfall starting on Saturday and continuing through the night, causing travel disruption on roads and railways.

Landslides blocked some roads in the west of Scotland, with 10 drivers being rescued by helicopter after becoming trapped on the A83 near Inverary in Argyll and Bute.

The road remained closed on Sunday as around 2,000 tonnes of debris had fallen onto the surface, with police advising people in the area to avoid travel.

ScotRail services on a number of lines were suspended on Sunday.

The Met Office’s amber warning for rain across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland remains in place until 2pm on Sunday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has more than 50 flood warnings in place while a severe flood warning is active for the Aviemore/Dalfaber area.

Issuing an update at 9am on Sunday, Sepa said people should remain vigilant about the risk of flooding.

Flood duty manager Vincent Fitzsimons said: “It’s been a rough weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities from Greenock to Aviemore.

“Our teams have been working around the clock with Scottish Government and the Met Office in the lead into and across this major weather event.”

He added: “Today the focus continues to turn to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers.

“It’s a day to stay alert, not stand down. The risk to life remains.”

It comes after a spokesman for ScotRail said some parts of Scotland saw a month’s rain in the 24 hours to Saturday evening, affecting train services throughout the country.

The Met Office said Tyndrum, west Perthshire, experienced the most rainfall, with 112.6mm falling on the small village.

Although the rain is expected to continue throughout the morning, it should clear away in the afternoon.

It is a different story for the south of the UK, with sunshine and highs of around 25C (77F) forecast by the Met Office for Sunday.

Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said the contrasting weather was caused by warm weather travelling up from France meeting cold weather coming from the north with the temperature contrast leading to the heavy rain in Scotland.

The warm weather in southern parts was expected to last until Tuesday.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: “Warmth to the south is likely to continue at least at the start of next week, before a likely gradual return to a more typically autumnal weather regime.”