Severe weather was seen across the UK last week, with roads and schools closed, and thousands left without power after Storm Goretti tore through the country
Scotland’s environmental agency has raised the number of flood warnings and alerts for the country after harsh weather battered the United Kingdom over the weekend.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) raised the number of flood warnings in place from three to nine, while the number of less severe flood alerts rose from 12 to 13, across the country.
Dalry and Kilwinning in North Ayrshire, Aberfoyle in Stirling, Newton Stewart and Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway, the Churchill Barriers in Orkney, Carse of Lennoch to Lochlane, Glen Lyon and Crieff to Innerpeffray in Tayside, are all under warnings.
The flood alerts affect much of the rest of Scotland.
“Continuing heavy rain, combined with melting snow, increases the risk of flooding,” David Morgan, Sepa’s flood duty manager, said previously.
Morgan said flood risk is greatest in Dumfries and Galloway and the west and north of the country. He added that impacts could include flooding affecting parts of communities, low-lying land, transport infrastructure and individual properties.
He also warned that diving conditions will be “very difficult” at times.
The Met Office has also placed ‘yellow’ warnings for wind and rain across most of north-western Scotland on Monday, January 12.
The Met Office’s Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said that there will be a transition in the weather across the UK through Sunday, with mild Atlantic air moving in from the west.
Temperatures are expected to rise and rain will be seen, accompanied by strong winds in the north.
“While the wintry weather may have come to an end, the significant snow accumulations in parts of Scotland mixed with heavy rainfall and an increase in temperatures bring a risk of flooding in some areas as the snow melts,” Lehnert said.
Resident have been urged to keep up to date with the flood warnings issued by Sepa.
The Scottish Government Resilience Room met for the seventh day in a row on Sunday, where they and partner agencies discussed how to respond to the harsh weather conditions affecting the country. Partner agencies included Sepa, the Met Office, Police Scotland and local responders, to ensure a co-ordinated response.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who hosted the meeting alongside the First Minister, previously said: “Rising temperatures and heavy rainfall, as well as melting snow, bring a significant risk of flooding in several areas. This could affect properties and transport routes.”
She added that difficult driving conditions expected in many parts of the country at the start of the working week.
It was noted at the meeting that Highland schools are scheduled to return on Monday and Aberdeenshire Council said many of its schools and health care services would reopen.
Aberdeenshire Council had previously declared the weather a major incident, but announced it had ended on Sunday evening.
Waste management teams and council staff were deployed to clear the heavy snow in the area and 170 farmers and contractors were brought in for further assistance.
“What we have experienced over the past two weeks has far exceeded what we would consider as part of our routine winter maintenance programme and it has required an extraordinary effort from the council, our partners, farmers, contractors, communities and individuals,” Jim Savege, chief executive of the council, said previously.
Severe weather closed roads, disrupted public transport and halted air travel as the UK was battered by Storm Goretti last week.
A decision will be made about returning traffic to the A83 trunk road by midday on Monday after a hillside inspection and subject to the forecast improving.
“The safety of road users is the priority for Bear Scotland and we closely monitor conditions at the Rest and Be Thankful on a daily basis,” said Euan Scott, Bear Scotland’s north west representative.
“Subject to the weather improving, we plan to inspect the hillside thoroughly on Monday January 12 and this will inform a decision to return traffic to the A83.”
