Scotland’s weather: More torrential rain on its way as a month’s worth of rain set to fall in just two days

By STEPHEN MCGINTY
Published on 06/07/2012 09:42

SCOTLAND was today braced for more torrential rain after the Met Office raised the weather warning to amber.

Across other parts of the UK, more than a month’s rain is expected to fall in just two days.

A severe weather warning has been issued by the Met Office, with fears of flooding and disruption today and tomorrow. Central and northern England is expected to be worst affected, with an amber alert – the second most severe category that can be given – in place for north-east England.

However, yesterday afternoon, the Met Office also upgraded its weather warnings to amber in several parts of Scotland including Central, Tayside and Fife, the south-west, Lothian, the Borders and Strathclyde.

Transport minister Keith Brown urged road users to be extra cautious and those using public transport to stay patient.

Mr Brown said: “I would urge motorists to be extra cautious when travelling in heavy downpours and allow extra time for braking distances.

“While all of the operators and other key agencies involved are working hard to keep Scotland moving and preparations are in place, it’s important the travelling public are prepared.”

Over the next two days, up to 100mm (3.9 inches) is expected to fall. The average UK rainfall for July is 69.9mm (2.8 inches). Last month was the wettest June since records began, with double the average rain. Provisional figures from the Met Office showed the UK received 145.3mm (5.7 inches) during June, beating the previous record of 136.2mm (5.4 inches) in June 2007.

It was the second month this year to see record-breaking amounts of rain, after April became the wettest in records dating back more than a century to 1910. On Wednesday, firefighters in Glasgow had to rescue motorists stranded in their cars by flash floods.

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