Scotland is grappling with severe flooding and widespread travel disruption following a deluge of heavy rain combined with rapid snowmelt. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued a significant number of alerts, urging the public to exercise extreme caution.
Widespread Flood Alerts and Critical Road Closures
As of Monday morning, SEPA had issued 19 active flood warnings alongside 12 flood alerts across the nation. The situation has led to major transport headaches, with several key routes forced to close. In Aberdeenshire, the A92 is shut in both directions due to flooding. The vital A9 at Blair Atholl in Perth and Kinross has also been closed.
Further west, the situation is compounded by a landslide. This has forced the closure of the A815 near its junction with the A83 at Cairndow, close to the Rest and be Thankful in Argyll and Bute. Diversions are currently in operation as engineers assess the unstable hillside.
Government Response and Public Warnings
The Scottish Government's resilience room met for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday to coordinate the national response. The meeting, hosted by Justice Secretary Angela Constance and First Minister John Swinney, brought together agencies including SEPA, the Met Office, and Police Scotland.
David Morgan, SEPA's flood duty manager, warned that continuing heavy rain mixed with melting snow significantly raises the flood risk. "Flood risk is greatest in Dumfries and Galloway and the west and north of Scotland," he stated. "Possible impacts could include flooding affecting parts of communities, low-lying land, transport infrastructure and individual properties. Driving conditions will be very difficult at times."
Angela Constance echoed the call for public vigilance: "As wintry conditions ease across the country, we are urging the public to remain vigilant. Rising temperatures and heavy rainfall, combined with melting snow, bring a significant risk of flooding in several areas."
Weather Outlook and Ongoing Disruption
The Met Office had a yellow warning for rain covering much of north-west Scotland in place until 10am on Monday. This follows a week of severe wintry weather that saw hundreds of schools closed at the start of the new term. While many schools in Highland and Aberdeenshire are expected to reopen, the aftermath continues to cause problems.
Matthew Lehnert, chief meteorologist for the Met Office, explained: "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."
Authorities are advising people to stay updated with the latest forecasts, flood warnings from SEPA, and travel advice. The public is urged to follow updates from key agencies as conditions are expected to remain challenging at the start of the working week.
