Dry January? Not according to forecast... as new f lood misery looms

HOMES across the country could be hit by floods tonight as Scots brace themselves for further downpours.

Two Met Office warnings of localised flooding and travel disruption in western and central regions have been issued, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned of potential surface water flooding.

Rising temperatures will melt snow and ice, adding to the flood risk.

One of the warnings, lasting from 2pm today to 6am tomorrow, affects parts of western and southern Scotland including Dumfries, Lanark, Peebles, Ayr, Inveraray, Fort William and Aberfeldy.

It says accumulations of up to an inch of rain are likely in most regions, with as much as two inches over hills, leading to fears of homes and businesses being flooded.

Yesterday the whole of Scotland was under a yellow warning for ice, with the Met Office alerting people to potential injuries and slips.

Today’s warning read: ‘Outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain, falling onto already saturated ground, during Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, are expected to bring some localised flooding across parts of western and central Scotland.

‘Accumulations widely of 15 to 25mm (1in) are likely, with a few locations, mainly western hills, seeing as much as 50mm (2in).

‘Rising temperatures will lead to a thaw of lying snow, especially over the hills and mountains to the north of the Central Belt.’

Last week’s extreme weather is still affecting Scotland’s travel services.

A landslip on the West Coast Main Line near Carstairs, Lanarkshire, on Friday, closed the route between Carlisle and Glasgow. Emergency engineering works are being carried out to remove rubble and fix damage beneath the track due to the flooding. Network Rail Scotland said the line is likely to remain closed until at least Friday. A spokesman said work was under way ‘to reopen the railway as quickly as we can’.

An Avanti West Coast spokesman said: ‘Customers are being advised not to travel north of Carlisle as there are no services.’

Rain this morning, turning to snow over high ground, will be a prelude to adverse weather tonight. Heavy rain is expected to move in from the West, bringing higher temperatures.

Highs of up to 12C (53F) are forecast for the Central Belt.

The Argyle Line via Glasgow Central low-level has stayed closed since the weekend due to river conditions making it too difficult for divers to inspect the Clyde Viaduct’s piers for water damage.

Similar conditions at the Camps Viaduct, Motherwell, have forced the line between Airbles and Hamilton to remain closed.

The Met Office’s Alex Burkill said the rain ‘won’t be as bad as New Year’s Eve but it will make any ongoing issues worse’.

Marc Becker, flood duty manager at Sepa, said: ‘Prolonged rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday, combined with melting snow, is likely to see river and surface water flooding across the country.’

‘Falling on already saturated ground’