Weather risk brings flooding as snow warnings downgraded

Heavy rain and melting snow has brought flooding to parts of Scotland, after a week of winter weather disruption.

Scotland's environment agency Sepa has issued a series of alerts as the Met Office downgraded a weekend warning for further snow.

Many roads in North East Scotland have been hit by floodwater after last week's freezing temperatures eased on Sunday.

Emergency services were called to deep water on A92 at Portlethen and the A90 at Toll of Birness, with various other reports of flooding across the region.

An amber snow alert in central Scotland, Grampian and the Highlands had been due to run until 15:00 on Sunday, but ended at 11:00. A yellow warning lapsed at 14:00

Yellow warnings for wind and rain have been put in place overnight until 10:00 on Monday.

The flooding comes after Scotland faced a week of snow and ice disruption across northern areas.

More than 250 schools remained closed on Friday, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a number in Moray.

Aberdeenshire council said it was ending its major incident response with only 10 schools remaining closed on Monday and health care services expected to reopen.

Aberdeen City Council said all schools should be open again.

Many pupils had a whole week off school at the start of the new term.

In Orkney, a flood warning is in place for the Churchill Barriers causeway.

It connects the main island to South Ronaldsay through Burray and the islands of Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm.

In the south of Scotland, Sepa has also issued a warning over rising river levels in Newton Stewart.

A series of less severe flood alerts are in place in other parts of the country.

Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: "With rainfall forecast to spread north and as temperatures rise following recent cold conditions, rain and thaw of lying snow will increase the risk of flooding.

"Possible impacts could include flooding of low lying land, roads and individual properties."

In Argyll, road management firm Bear Scotland said traffic from the A83 Rest and Be Thankful had been rerouted as a precaution due to forecast rain.

Bear Scotland's Euan Scott said: "Heavy rainfall is expected throughout Sunday, which will increase saturation levels on the hillside.

"We have therefore made the decision to utilise the Old Military Road as a proactive safety measure."

In the north, several rural roads and routes on high ground remained closed.

Poor weather also affected ferry services on the west coast, as well as train services linking Glasgow and Edinburgh with Inverness and Aberdeen.

The Scottish government held a resilience meeting with police, local authorities and other agencies on Sunday.

Justice secretary Angela Constance said conditions were improving but urged people to "remain vigilant".

She said: "What we will see with heavy rain, wind and improving temperatures is an increase of flooding.

"People must plan ahead for their journeys and keep well informed about conditions in their area."