Scotland braces for record rainfall

Severe rainfall and winds are expected to pelt Britain this week, leading to heavy flooding that could put lives at risk in eastern Scotland, Britain’s national weather service warned on Wednesday.

Fall is typically wet and windy in Scotland, and earlier this month floodwaters submerged streets, damaged railways, and swept away unharvested crops. But the red alert on Wednesday — the highest rain alert issued by the weather agency, the Met Office — signaled the possible severity of the incoming Storm Babet, and officials urged residents to brace for dangerous conditions beginning on Thursday.

As much as a month’s worth of rain is expected to fall between Thursday and Friday in Scotland, according to the forecast, with some areas expecting 9.8 inches of rain. That is more than fell in Scotland in the entire month of October in 2022 — about 7.7 inches.

Torrential rain could flood homes, cut off power and other essential services, and leave communities isolated for several days, the agency said. The fast-flowing and rising floodwaters, it added, could pose a danger to life.

The storm will bring heavy rain to Scotland’s southwest on Wednesday before moving to the northeast on Thursday and into the weekend, David Morgan, flood duty manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said in a release.

With water from earlier rains already filling rivers and saturating catchments, Morgan said, the agency is urging people to be prepared for potential flooding.

Winds of more than 70 miles per hour were also likely on Thursday, the weather agency said, especially near Scottish coastlines, which are vulnerable to landslides.

The heavy rain and winds will also hit Northern Ireland and England, both of which have weather warnings in place.