Flood warnings issued as heavy rain forces road closures

Flooding has brought significant disruption in parts of Scotland, with flood warnings in place in many areas due to heavy rain and melting snow.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued 15 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts around the country.

Meanwhile, a Met Office yellow warning for ice will cover much of mainland Scotland north of Perth from 19:00 until 10:00 on Tuesday.

The forecaster advised caution while travelling as road temperatures are expected to fall below freezing overnight, which could lead to icy stretches.

An earlier warning of rain for much of north-west Scotland was in place until 10:00 while a wind warning expired at 08:00.

In Argyll and Bute, the A815 near Lochgoilhead close to the junction with the Rest and Be Thankful, is closed in both directions following a landslide.

Diversions are in place via the B839 and B828 and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

In Aberdeenshire, the A92 was closed in both directions for several hours due to flooding, as was the A9 at Blair Atholl in Perth and Kinross.

The heavy rain comes after a week of wintry weather in northern Scotland which saw hundreds of schools closed throughout the first week of the new term.

Aberdeenshire Council last week declared a major incident over the weather situation, but on Sunday evening announced the incident was over.

Around a dozen schools in Aberdeenshire remain closed, while schools in Aberdeen and Highland council areas have reopened.

Authorities have urged people to be vigilant due to the weather conditions.

David Morgan, Sepa's flood duty manager, said: "Continuing heavy rain, combined with melting snow, increases the risk of flooding.

"Flood risk is greatest in Dumfries and Galloway and the west and north of Scotland.

"Possible impacts could include flooding affecting parts of communities, low-lying land, transport infrastructure and individual properties.

"Driving conditions will be very difficult at times."

In Aberdeen, where many bins are overflowing, the thaw has allowed refuse collections to resume.

Many bins in the north east have not been emptied since before Christmas.

The weather has also taken a toll on road surfaces, with a number of larger potholes spotted on the Bridge of Dee, which underwent extensive resurfacing in 2024.

The council has asked residents to report potholes on their website so it can draw up a repair plan.

The Scottish Government Resilience Room met for the seventh day in a row on Sunday, where they and partner agencies discussed how to respond to the harsh weather conditions affecting the country.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who hosted the meeting alongside First Minister John Swinney, said: "As wintry conditions ease across the country, we are urging the public to remain vigilant.

"I would encourage everyone to keep a close eye on weather forecasts, flood alerts and travel advice for their area over the coming days."