Police say high risk of travel disruption as amber rain warning issued

Police Scotland says there is a high risk of travel disruption in areas covered by an amber weather warning for heavy rain.

The Met Office is forecasting parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross and Aberdeenshire could see up 80mm (3in) of rainfall on Thursday - and accumulations of 120mm (4in) on higher ground.

The amber warning starts at midnight and ends at 18:00.

A yellow weather warning for rain is in place for a larger area, which includes the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeen, until midnight on Friday.

Police have urged drivers to heed the warnings.

Head of road policing, Ch Supt Scott McCarren, 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."

He said people should plan ahead and make sure they were prepared for delays.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said road and rail travel could be affected.

She 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."

The Met Office said the amber warning included a forecast for persistent and heavy rain.

It predicted rainfall totals in a few places could exceed 150mm (6in) because it will have been raining since Wednesday evening.

The Met Office added: "This is expected to lead to some surface water and river flooding across the area."

Forecasters said that, in the yellow warning area, rainfall accumulations of 30-60mm - about one to two inches - were "likely fairly widely" inland, with up to 120mm (5in) over the highest ground.

The Met Office said there could be flooding in some places because the ground was already wet due to recent rain and thawing snow.