Multiple flood warnings are in place across Western Scotland today with heavy rain sweeping in across Wednesday and Thursday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued 12 flood warnings and 14 flood alerts as a Met Office weather warning for heavy rain starts this afternoon.

A yellow alert will be in place from 11am on Wednesday until 8am on Thursday, after being updated by the Met Office.

The downpours come from the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto which left more than 23,000 in Bermuda without power after it made landfall on Saturday.

Up to 150mm of rainfall is expected within a 24-hour period in Scotland for the worst affected areas, and flooding is expected to be caused by high tides from the sea.

The Flood Warnings issued by SEPA, which are one category higher than an alert, are predominantly in the north of Scotland and the western isles.

A statement said: “The prevailing weather forecast, along with very high tides and waves means that flooding from the sea is expected.

“There is a risk of coastal flooding due to high spring tides, with some surge, wind and waves. Minor impacts may occur in Stornoway and Ardmore to Loch Carnan around the time of high tide. The tide on Wednesday evening will be higher and Alert updates will follow.”

 

Ferry operator CalMac has said multiple services remain liable to disruption of cancellation due to the adverse weather and also announced its sailing between Tobermory and Kilchoan would stop at  11:45 am.

Flood alerts remain in place for the west coast of Scotland’s mainland including Ayrshire and Arran, Argyll and Bute, and Dumfries and Galloway.

Traffic disruption is expected to be caused by the heavy downpours, with Police Scotland and Traffic Scotland urging commuters to plan their journey in advance.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “A band of rain is expected to move in from the southwest on Wednesday morning, becoming slow moving with heavy bursts of rain at times, especially over the hills. 75-100 mm is expected over the course of Wednesday and Thursday for some places, mainly over Argyll and West Highland, with the main bulk of the rain falling within a 24 hour period, with as much as 150 mm possible over some hills.

“Over Southwest Scotland accumulations of 30-50mm are likely. The rain will be accompanied by strong southwesterly winds, with gusts perhaps reaching 50-60 mph on the coast and around the islands. With spring tides expected, this could also lead to some potentially dangerous conditions on the coast, with spray and wave overtopping.

“Peak winds are expected during Wednesday evening. Winds will ease through Thursday, along with a gradual clearance of the rain by the end of the day.”

Regions and local authorities affected:

Central, Tayside & Fife

  • Perth and Kinross
  • Stirling

Highlands & Eilean Siar

  • Na h-Eileanan Siar
  • Highland

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

  • Dumfries and Galloway

Strathclyde

  • Argyll and Bute
  • East Ayrshire
  • East Dunbartonshire
  • East Renfrewshire
  • Glasgow
  • Inverclyde
  • North Ayrshire
  • Renfrewshire
  • South Ayrshire
  • South Lanarkshire
  • West Dunbartonshire