Torrential rain brings flooding and travel chaos to Scotland

Parts of Scotland have been hit with heavy flooding after various weather alerts were issued across the country. 

Heavy rainfall has blocked railway lines and triggered a host of flood alerts as some parts of the UK were hit by more than a month’s worth of rain in a 26-hour period.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued ten flood alerts and 41 flood warnings on Saturday afternoon.

Worst hit areas include Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Angus, Tayside, the Borders and parts of the Central Belt.

Images online showed areas in Callander, Stirlingshire, submerged in water as heavy rainfall continued to batter the country. 

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The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning stretching from western and north-eastern parts of the country to the Borders.

Ahead of the weekend forecasters warned homes and businesses could be flooded, while heavy rainfall already forced the closure of the Old Military Road at the A83 in Argyll.

They said 20-40mm of rain is likely quite widely, with 50-60mm possible over some hilly areas.

10 regional Flood Alerts and 41 local Flood Warnings are in place.

Rainfall is expected to continue into this evening, with some rivers peaking later tonight, or into Sunday morning.

We are constantly monitoring the situations. More information -> https://t.co/SWf758Tzb5 pic.twitter.com/ag6ZtxyI8C

— Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) (@ScottishEPA) February 20, 2021

It added: “Further snowmelt is likely across the southern Highlands, contributing to the flood risk.”

Police Scotland urged caution on a stretch of road alongside Loch Lomond due to the conditions.

Persistent heavy rainfall at the Rest and Be Thankful meant the Old Military Road was closed overnight on Friday.

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All traffic was diverted between Tarbet and Inveraray on the A82, A85 and A819.

Police said water is running off the hillside on to the A82 north of Luss to Tarbet, and urged motorists to take care.

Network Rail closed the line between Dundee and Perth due to flooding, with engineers sent to the site.

Services were also halted between Perth and Dunkeld after heavy rain.

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