Brollies out! 10cm rain to wreak havoc
Travel warning after deluge forecast
TORRENTIAL downpours with up to 10cm of rain could cause travel chaos today.
The Met Office issued a 30-hour weather warning from 3am today until 9am tomorrow.
It covers much of the west and south-west of Scotland, Lothian and Borders, Central, Fife and Tayside.
Transport Scotland last night closed the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll. The road was swamped by a landslip during a deluge in August.
Argyll is forecast to receive four inches of rain over two days. The diversion via the Old Military Road will remain in place until Tuesday. Eddie Ross of roads operator Bear Scotland said: “Heavy rainfall is expected, which could have an impact on the hillside above the A83.
“We cont i nue to implement a safety-first approach.”
The rail network is also expected to be impacted, having suffered a number of landslides this autumn.
October had already registered record rainfall even before the latest grim forecast, which suggests homes could be flooded. The Met Office also warned of potential “danger to life”.
Some communities could be cut off by flooding.
John Griffiths of the Met Office said: “This is an approaching Atlantic front, crossing Ireland and coming into Scotland from the south-west.
“It gets going on Sunday night and after a brief dry spell on Monday morning produces outbreaks of very heavy rain.
“The prospect of travel disruption is increased by the fact that we have had fairly early leaf fall this year, so drains could have become blocked by leaves. It will be windy as well.”