More that 2,000 homes are set to benefit from the warnings

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) will work with Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Angus councils for the project.

They are expected to be operational in about 30 months.

Properties and businesses in the catchment areas of the rivers Dee, Don, Deveron and North Esk will benefit from the initiative.

The schemes are aimed to provide advance flood warning, using up-to-date river level information.

They would give at least three hours notice of the possible flooding to homes and businesses, enabling people to take appropriate action in advance of any flooding.

'Increasingly important'

Environment Minister Michael Russell said: "The destruction which flooding can cause is not only traumatic in terms of loss of property but potentially devastating for the households and businesses directly affected.

"This �1m scheme will provide a flood warning to householders and businesses in order for them to prepare for potential flooding events and reduce the economic impacts of flooding.

"The catchment area of the rivers Dee, Don, Deveron and North Esk has a long history of flooding. This flood warning scheme will act to alert those living in more than 2,500 properties in Aberdeen, Inverurie and Huntly when water levels become critical."

Dr Chris Spray, Sepa's director of environmental science, said: "The climate in Scotland is changing.