175mm of rain forecast this weekend: sparks Met Office yellow weather warning for the Highlands
As much as 175mm of rain could fall in some places this weekend, the Met Office has warned after it issued a yellow alert for large swathes of the Highlands.
It said 75-125mm could fall "fairly widely", with 150-175mm possible "in a few places over higher ground". The rain will be accompanied by "strong" south-westerly winds.
The alert comes into force at 6pm on Saturday and will remain in place for the whole of Sunday.
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It covers an area extending from Oban and Loch Awe in the south, and northwards through Fort William, parts of the Great Glen, Wester Ross and western and northern Sutherland. Skye and Raasay are also covered by the warning.
A Met Office spokesman said: "A slow-moving weather front is expected to lead to a prolonged spell of heavy rain during Saturday afternoon and persisting through much of Sunday before clearing south into the start of next week.
"Whilst there is still some uncertainty in the duration of the rainfall, there is a chance that 75-125 mm could fall fairly widely with 150-175 mm possible in a few places over higher ground.
"Strong south-westerly winds will accompany this prolonged rainfall."
