Travel warning as Storm Christoph arrives with heavy rain, snow and ice
SCOTS are being urged to travel with caution as Storm Christoph brings challenging weather conditions to some parts of the country.
Forecasters said rain would increasingly fall overnight into today and may bring disruption in southern Scotland, while there are warnings of snow and ice in the north.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings of snow for south-west Scotland, Lothian, the Borders and Strathclyde, valid until midday today.
A yellow warning of snow and ice was in place for Grampian and the Highlands until midnight last night.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning of heavy rain for Grampian, the Highlands and Orkney and Shetland valid from midnight last night until midday tomorrow.
It states: “Persistent, heavy rain associated with Storm Christoph is expected to affect the north and north-east of mainland Scotland as well as Orkney early on Thursday before slowly pulling away on Friday.”
Forecasters warn the heavy rain is expected to cause some travel disruption and possible flooding today and tomorrow morning.
Authorities have reminded people they should only travel for essential reasons under current coronavirus restrictions, and to take care if they do have to go out.
Nithsdale police in southern Scotland tweeted: “Remember there are #weather warnings in place for today due to #Stormchristoph. Please #staysafe & due to #covid19 you should only leave home for essential journeys.”
Police Scotland tweeted: “Weather Warning – Travel with Caution.”
Some parts of the UK could see two months’ worth of average rainfall in just two-and-a-half days as Storm Christoph moves in, with England expected to bear the brunt of the bad weather.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued two flood alerts – one in the Borders and one in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Jim Fraser, emergency planning officer at Borders Council, said: “With already saturated ground, we are closely monitoring the situation and liaising with our Sepa and Met Office colleagues around the potential for localised flooding.
“The council is well prepared and able to respond to any issues that do occur to support our communities, but please play take notice of the warning.”