Scotland’s weather: Downpours threaten flooding

Urquhart Castle by Loch Ness, Scotland. Picture: PA

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HOMES beside Loch Ness and in the Great Glen were braced for flooding after the Met Office issued an amber severe weather warning for up to a month’s rainfall by Sunday.

The agency warned there could also be travel disruption from up to 200mm (8in) of rain in places from 6pm to 6am on Sunday.

It upgraded its warning for the area between Inverness and Fort William from yellow - “be aware”.

A yellow warning remains in place for the western half of Scotland from Callander in the Trossachs to Lairg in the Highlands.

The Met Office said: “Rain will be persistent and heavy at times during the rest of Friday and Saturday, lasting into Sunday morning.

“Whilst the wettest conditions will be over the west Highlands, the rain will feed rivers draining into and out of Loch Ness, bringing a risk of property and road flooding in the area.

“The public should be prepared for this risk, along with that of travel disruption, especially on Saturday and into Sunday morning.

“As very mild air is drawn in on the strong south-westerly airstream, snow melt will add to the flooding risk.”

River levels are expected to rise in Lochaber and around the Great Glen, including the Beauly, Conon, Ness and Upper Spey.

BEAR Scotland, which maintains the area’s trunk roads, said 122 staff, five tankers along with pumps and sandbags had been put on standby.

Transport minister Derek Mackay said such firms “will be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of the storms by clearing drains and gullies but the extreme conditions mean there is a chance of flooding on some routes.”

Environment minister Aileen McLeod said: “The public should be alert to the risk of flooding and the potential for disruption.”

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