'Stay alert' warns SEPA as rain prevails in Badenoch and Strathspey
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have warned communities to stay vigilant as the weekend of severe weather continues across Sunday evening and into Monday morning.
Alerts and Warnings as at 19:00
11 Regional Flood Alerts
51 Local Flood Warnings
2 Severe Flood Warnings
Multiple Flood Warnings and Alerts are in place across Scotland, with the focus remaining on the Spey and Tay catchments.
All the strath areas are still under 'flood' warnings and one – Aviemore and Dalfaber – remains on 'severe' status:
"This means that extensive flooding is expected to properties and businesses in and around Aviemore from the early hours of Sunday morning.
"This will include Dalfaber Road, Inverdruie, The Old Bridge Inn, Speyside Leisure Park, the sewage treatment works and the railway line at Easter Kinakyle. Many roads will be impassible in and around Aviemore.
"River levels are expected to be higher than those experienced in early December 2015 and are forecast to slowly peak during Sunday.
"Stay away from flood water and do not take unnecessary risks. If you are affected by or concerned about flooding please contact the emergency services. Some evacuations have been advised; please follow any advice provided by the emergency services and local authorities.
"Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property. Advice and information is also available through Floodline on 0345 9881188. "
The Floodline quick dial number for the area is 22304
While local Flood Warnings in some areas of Scotland may start coming off over the evening as rivers fall, others will stay in force as some waters continue to rise and the agency continues to warn of likely impacts as communities count the cost of the weekend’s flood damage.
Ruth Ellis, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Today the focus turned to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers.
"I want to be clear that communities in these areas should stay alert over the evening as some rivers will continue to rise over the course of the evening. The risk to life remains.
"It’s been a difficult weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities all over Scotland. Across many areas of the country there is still some deep standing water and it’s really important people understand the danger.
"Hazards can be hidden, so please don’t walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30 cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.
“Our teams have been working around the clock with partner agencies, including Scottish Government, the Met Office, emergency services and local authorities across this major weather event.
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"We will continue to provide information and support in the coming days and weeks to ensure Scotland recovers from this event and becomes more resilient to future flooding.
"We’ll be continuing to issue further updates across the evening to communities across northern Scotland and our advice remains for people to keep up to date with information from sepa.org.uk and follow guidance from emergency services.”
