Torrential rainfall continues to batter Scotland into Sunday with widespread flooding in many areas.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain – meaning “danger to life” – across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland until 2pm on Sunday.
A separate amber warning, stretching from Aviemore to Glasgow, expired at 6am, with much of the rest of the country under yellow warnings.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had 53 flood warnings and 17 alerts in place at 8.30am, while a severe flood warning is active for the Aviemore/Dalfaber area.
A very wet day across Scotland, but warmer and drier further south
Here are the extremes for Saturday 7th October 👇 pic.twitter.com/Ji8xfLj7RA
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 7, 2023
In a statement, Sepa said extensive flooding is expected to properties and businesses “in and around Aviemore from the early hours of Sunday morning”, with rivers forecast to slowly peak throughout the day.
Anyone in the affected area is urged to stay away from flood water, avoid unnecessary risks and comply with any evacuation orders.
It comes after a spokesman for ScotRail said some parts of Scotland saw a month’s rain in the 24 hours to Saturday evening, affecting train services throughout the country.
READ MORE: Images of flooded stations reveal scale of disruption
The Met Office said Tyndrum, west Perthshire experienced the most rainfall, with 112.6mm falling on the small village.
⚠️This is a day to stay alert, not to stand down - particularly in the North.
— SEPAFlood (@SEPAFlood) October 8, 2023
⚠️The risk to life remains.
⚠️@trafficscotland for trunk road updates
⚠️@PoliceScotland for travel advice
⚠️Latest at https://t.co/Woujcrq3E3 pic.twitter.com/UcBxvgxdvp
Although the rain is expected to continue throughout the morning, it should clear away in the afternoon.
Police said there had been no reports of injuries but they were treating the persistent heavy rain in parts of the west of Scotland as a "major incident".
On Saturday no cross border trains ran and ScotRail cancelled dozens of services and also cut short its scheduled timetable.
The operator warned that there would be further disruption on Sunday.
Road maintenance agencies said that conditions in the Argyll area were "challenging" and it was too dangerous to assess the A83 landslips on Saturday.
A statement from Bear Scotland said the road would remain closed at the Rest and Be Thankful section, while inspections take place.
It said: "There have been seven identified landslips on the A83, including several at the Rest and Be Thankful.
"Road closures are in place between Inveraray and Tarbet due to landslides both sides of Dunoon junction. The hard closure point is at Ardgarten, with road closed ahead at Tarbet.
"The usual diversion via A819/A85/A82 at A85 Dalmally is also currently closed due to flooding."
Landslips closed the A83 on Saturday
Discussing the situation likely to unfold today ithis morning, Vincent Fitzsimons, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
Issuing an update at 9am on Sunday, Sepa said people should remain vigilant about the risk of flooding.
Flood duty manager Vincent Fitzsimons said: “It’s been a rough weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities from Greenock to Aviemore.
“Our teams have been working around the clock with Scottish Government and the Met Office in the lead into and across this major weather event.”
He added: “
He added: “Today the focus continues to turn to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers.
“It’s a day to stay alert, not stand down. The risk to life remains.”
READ MORE: SEPA pollution alert after heating oil leaks into Forth
He advised people to check SEPA's live Flood Updates for all the latest information, while those living, working and travelling in the affected areas should consider the steps they need to take now "to be prepared for flooding impacts and consider whether their journey is necessary."
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