Flooded rivers cause road closures - and more rain forecast

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 10:21

ROADS across parts of Scotland were closed today after rivers burst their banks during torrential rain.

• The River Nith, at the white sands in Dumfries, is at a high risk of flooding

And forecasters predicted more rain tonight in southern and central Scotland.

In the centre of Dumfries, in Dumfriesshire, a car park in the Whitesands area flooded when the River Nith burst its banks.

Between 6pm last night and midday today 62mm of rain fell on Eskdalemuir, a weather station 20 miles from Dumfries, MeteoGroup, the weather arm of the Press Association said.

Central Scotland Police said five minor accidents have occurred on the M9 and M876 roads because of surface water. No one involved was seriously injured.

By 4pm today police told drivers to avoid Dumfries town centre because of traffic jams resulting from road closures.

Areas in the Borders were also flooded.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said motorists should only travel if their journeys were essential.

By 4pm today four areas had severe flood warnings from Ettrick, Yarrow and Teviot Water in the Scottish Borders, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) website.

And 16 flood warnings have been issued in other areas such as the Tidal Clyde from Dumbarton to the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow and the Renfrewshire coast, the River Tay from Kenmore to the A9 road bridge upstream of Dunkeld, including Aberfeldy and Dalguise, and the River Tweed upstream of Peebles.

At least 10 rural roads across the Dumfries and Galloway area were closed due to flooding, Dumfries and Galloway Council said.

A spokesman for the council said no evacuations or buildings were threatened by flooding in the area.

Dumfries and Galloway councillor Gillian Dykes, who lives in Moniaive, said: "There is a lot of flooding, not only in Dumfries town centre but rural areas. It's still raining. It's still very wet and windy.

"The flooding is causing many hazards on the rural roads.

"Due to flooding on the roads, I can't get to Dumfries. You may be able to with a tractor but I can't with a car."

Central Scotland Police also warned drivers in Scotland to drive slower in the wet weather.

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Chief Inspector Donald McMillan, head of the force's road policing unit, said: "Many motorists are still ignoring our advice to lower their speed and drive according to the road conditions. This morning we had several collisions where vehicles had aquaplaned due to the excess water on the road surfaces.

"Motorists should exercise common sense and realise they cannot drive at the speeds they may ordinarily do when the road conditions are good.

"Many ignored my officers who were standing at the roadside dealing with collisions and trying to slow the traffic down."

"The weather conditions are horrendous and people need to exercise caution for their own safety and others. It was just good fortune that nobody was seriously injured in any of the collisions this morning."

A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said they have had calls about some roads being impassable because they are submerged in two feet of water.

"Reduced visibility because of driving rain and spray from other vehicles is proving to be a real hazard on the A74(M) motorway."

Julian Mayes, one of the forecasters for MeteoGroup, said more rain is expected in central and southern Scotland tonight.

"This has been quite a severe event for the upland areas," he said.

"The whole of Scotland apart from the west coast and far east coast is going to get significant rainfall amounts this evening. But there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Although the south west of Scotland bore the brunt of the heavy rain in the afternoon it is beginning to clear.

"The rain line is edging slowly east. For the west coast and Glasgow we should be seeing an easing in conditions for a time.

"By around 3am or 4am conditions should improve.

However more heavy rain will fall on Saturday, he added.

In Glasgow 27mm of rain fell from 6pm yesterday to midday today.