Amber rain warning for Eastern Scotland

Heavy rain is set to bring disruption to the transport network in parts of eastern Scotland, following an amber warning from the Met Office.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain, covering parts of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross. It will be in place from midnight on Thursday 22 Jan through to 6pm that evening. A wider yellow warning for rain remains in place for parts of central Scotland, Fife, Tayside, Grampian and the Highlands through to late on Friday.

The downpours will potentially impact driving conditions, bringing reduced visibility and surface water, and rail services may be subject to delays or cancellations. Police Scotland is warning of a high degree of disruption to travel in the area affected by the amber warning.

The Multi-Agency Response Team will be operational throughout the amber warning period to monitor conditions, and our Operating Companies will carry out inspections of culverts and flooding hotspots ahead of the amber warning coming into effect.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:

"The Met Office is forecasting heavy rain in parts of eastern Scotland over the next few days, which will likely bring disruption to the transport network.

"If you have to travel, please make sure you plan your journey before you set off. Motorists can use the Traffic Scotland service to see if their route is available - they have the most up-to-date information on the trunk road network on their website, social media channels and radio broadcasts.

"The forecast conditions are also likely to impact the rail network, so please check with Scotrail to see if your service is affected. The same advice stands for people planning on travelling by air or ferry."

Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, Head of Road Policing for Police Scotland, said:

"The amber warning for rain means there is a high risk of disruption on the road network and travel conditions may be hazardous.

"Motorists are therefore advised to take extra caution when driving and avoid non-essential travel until road conditions improve.

"If you do have to travel then plan ahead, and ensure both you and your vehicle are suitably equipped for the conditions you may face and be aware that the delays may result in you spending longer within your vehicle, so make sure your mobile phone is charged and you have plenty of fuel, warm clothing, food, and water.

"Please also pay attention to any road signage and warnings relating to flooded roads or surface water and do not try to access any routes that are closed because of the conditions.

"Stay tuned to media outlets for further updates and consult the Traffic Scotland website and social media channels for information relating to affected roads."

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:

"Safety is always our top priority, and with an amber warning for persistent and heavy rain there is a risk of flooding, so customers should check their journey before travelling.

"Speed restrictions will be in place across parts of the network, and while this may mean some journeys take a little longer, these steps are essential to keeping everyone safe.

"We'll have staff working around the clock to support Network Rail's efforts and to keep people moving where it's safe to do so. We'd encourage customers to use the ScotRail app, website, or follow our social channels for the latest travel information."