Homes have been evacuated and roads have been closed

The downpours brought rising water and led to landslides and fallen trees.

A number of properties were evacuated in Perthshire and a family of five had a lucky escape when their car was encased in mud on the A9.

A helicopter was called to fly two very ill patients from Pitlochry to hospital in Dundee because roads were blocked.

The body which monitors rivers has warned of more localised flooding.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said 11 flood watch alerts were in place on Wednesday for rivers in areas including Tayside, the Borders, Strathclyde, Ayrshire and Argyll.

Treacherous conditions

Sepa said dangerously high water levels on the River Nith in Dumfriesshire were expected to recede but official warnings have been issued for the River Tay and River Lyon.

Firefighters have been dealing with flooding on Tayside, with many calls to the west end of Dundee, South Inch in Perth and Aberfeldy in Perthshire. Police have advised that the Aberfeldy area should be avoided.

Some properties in Bankfoot and Coupar Angus have been evacuated and driving conditions are treacherous, with several roads and bridges closed.

A landslide closed the A83 in Argyll between Tarbet and Inverary and surface water has been a problem in some areas.

Residents in Dunkeld, Perthshire, described a wave of water sweeping down the main street, while one firefighter said it was the worst flooding he had seen in the town.

Emergency services have been assisting flood-hit residents

When mud began covering Sandy Hills' car on the A9 he knew he had no time to lose in getting himself, his wife Catherine and grown-up children, Steven, Natalie and David out of the vehicle.

The family from Dundee were forced to crawl out of the windows of their Volkswagen Passat.

Soon after the escape the car became completely submerged as the embankment collapsed across the dual carriageway.

It is thought that at least six other vehicles were affected by the mud slide.

Drivers and passengers were taken to a crisis centre in Perth along with about 40 residents of nearby Bankfoot who were evacuated after the River Tay burst its banks and caused flooding.

A Royal Air Force helicopter carrying an injured man was forced to take a detour because of poor weather.

The man, who suffered a head injury in a road accident, was being transferred from Broadford Hospital in Skye to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Monthly rainfall

The crew were forced to fly along the coast because of poor conditions inland.

The helicopter was unable to land at the infirmary but touched down at Dyce Airport, where the man was transferred to an ambulance.

The average monthly rainfall for August has fallen in the space of two days in Scotland.

However, not all parts of the country have been affected.

Aultbea in Wester Ross had the highest temperature in the UK on Tuesday, when it reached 27C.