Torrential rain set to continue causing Tayside travel chaos

Parts of Tayside have been issued with an upgraded amber warning for rain. The Met Office had already issued a yellow warning covering most of Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife until 6pm today.

Now the forecasters have issued a separate amber warning covering most of Angus and areas of eastern and northern Perthshire.

It comes into force until 3pm today, with experts saying it is “likely” homes and businesses will be flooded and that floodwater could be a “danger to life”.

The weather led to several incidents yesterday, including the railway line between Dundee and Aberdeen having to close due to flooding.

Scotrail laid on shuttle buses instead as the flooding affected the line between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven.

Speed restrictions are in place on the lines between Dunblane and Gleneagles, Aberdour and Burntisland, Perth and Ladybank, and Laurencekirk and Portlethen until noon today, while speed restrictions will be in place on the line between Perth and Dunkeld & Birnam, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl until 10am tomorrow.

A tweet from Perth and Kinross Council said: “There is likely to be standing water on some roads, so please drive with extra care.

“If you know you are at risk from flooding, please take precautions to protect your own property.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a flood warning for the River Isla at Coupar Angus.

It says: “Prolonged rainfall on to saturated ground during Thursday and continuing into Friday may result in a rise in river levels higher than those experienced during Tuesday.

“Flooding of low-lying agricultural land remains possible.

“Sepa will continue to monitor the situation, and further updates will be issued as appropriate.”

Warnings have also been issued for the Bridge of Ruthven to Leitfie and Aberbothrie areas.

Lower-level flood alerts are also in place for Dundee, Angus and Fife.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said: “We’ve got an area of low pressure that is quite slow moving – the same area of low pressure that brought quite a lot of rain to the southeast of the UK today and is now moving up the east coast of the UK.

“Later on Friday, that rainfall should start to ease as low pressure moves away.”

Road conditions are also said to be responsible for two crashes, with a lorry landing on its side on the Emmock Roundabout on the A90, while two lorries were also involved in a collision on the A94 near Balbeggie.

OVERTURNED: Poor road conditions caused this accident on the Emmock Roundabout. Picture by Kim Cessford.