Scotland’s weather: New flood and storm warnings

Motorists have been warned to expect flooding

The alert came as a warning for heavy rain and flooding in western Scotland was upgraded to amber - “be prepared” - by the Met Office until early today.

The agency announced a yellow “be aware” warning for the storm which is due to blast across the western Highlands and the Western and Northern Isles. The alert lasts from 9am to 11:45pm, when winds are expected to gust to 65-75mph.

The Met Office said: “Southwesterly winds will increase during Monday morning, when severe gales will affect parts of north-west mainland of Scotland and the Western Isles, extending to the Northern Isles during the afternoon.

“Later in the day, the strongest winds should ease from the south of the warning area. Be aware there may be some further disruption to travel. Additionally, large waves may cause overtopping of sea defences.”

The amber rain warning covers an area from Loch Lomond to Dumfries and Galloway.

A yellow warning covers the rest of the country south of the Highlands and Islands and north east until early today.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued seven flood warnings, for South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Dumfries and Tayside.

They include for the village of Rosebank, near Carluke in South Lanarkshire, which was threatened by the River Clyde.

Areas of Pollok Park in Glasgow were at risk from the White Cart Water, including a police dog compound.

The other warnings were for the Whitesands area of Dumfies, and farmland in Perthshire.

Flooding hampered drivers on major routes yesterday, with a section of the A82 closed at Renton, north of Dumbarton.

There was disruption on the A68 at Ancrum in the Borders, the A985 in Devilla Forest, east of Kincardine in Fife, the A77 at Girvan in South Ayrshire, the A83 between Lochgilphead and Inveraray in Argyll, and the A725 Raith Interchange in Lanarkshire.

South of the Border, police warned motorists in Cumbria to drive “only if absolutely necessary”.