The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland’s flood forecasting and warning authority, is warning of a week of unsettled weather and surface water flooding for Scotland.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland’s flood forecasting and warning authority, is warning of a week of unsettled weather and surface water flooding for Scotland.
The guidance comes after last week’s significant flooding in the run-up to New Year which saw Scotland’s environment protection agency issue 10 regional flood alerts, 29 local flood warnings and a severe flood warning in place for Dumfries.
Impacts across the country were significant, with levels at the River Nith being the highest ever recorded, and higher than Storm Frank in 2015 and flooding in December 1982.
Across the coming days, prolonged rainfall today and Wednesday, combined with melting snow, is likely to see minor river and surface water flooding, across the country, with the potential for impact on transport routes. Whilst peak river levels in Southern Scotland, including the Tweed and the Nith, are expected to be well below those experienced last week, given the saturated nature of the ground, SEPA says minor disruption is likely on some transport routes with isolated property flooding in places.
Marc Becker, Flood Duty Manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
“Across New Year’s week we’ll see Scotland face a further period of unsettled weather. Prolonged rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday, combined with melting snow, is likely to see minor river and surface water flooding, across the country, with the potential for impact on transport routes.
“Whilst peak river levels in Southern Scotland, including the Tweed and the Nith, are expected to be well below those experienced last week, given the saturated nature of the ground, minor disruption is likely on some transport routes with isolated property flooding in places.”
The Agency is warning that disruption due to flooding is likely from today through to Thursday across most of Scotland due to several spells of rain, which will be heavy at times, falling onto wet ground. Snow melt will also affect central and northern parts of the country.
SEPA uses forecast weather information provided by the Met Office combined with its own observation of rainfall and river levels and advanced hydrological modelling to provide advance warning of flooding.
Click here to access SEPA’s three-day flood forecast
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