Tag: flood alerts

SEPA warns of Sunday storm surge across coastal areas

18 Regional Flood Alerts and 42 Local Flood Warnings remain

  • On Sunday and Monday significant flooding to coastal areas remains possible – in particular in the Western Isles and Orkney due to high tides, surge and waves.
  • Danger to life, property flooding, flooding of roads and disruption to infrastructure is possible.
  • On Tuesday, significant flooding from rivers and surface water is possible in southern, central and north-eastern areas, with coastal flooding continuing due to high sprint tides.

Janine Hensman, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Across Sunday, we’ll continue to see high tides, storm surge and large waves across coastal areas. This combination is particularly dangerous – especially around high tides.

“There is real danger to life from wave overtopping, particularly around causeways, coastal roads and paths.  While the risk is greatest around high tide times, our message is clear :  take extra care if you are near the coast at any point and stay well clear of waves and water.  Be careful when travelling around exposed coastal areas and don’t walk or drive through flood water as there may be hidden hazards.

“Whilst Storm Kathleen will ease on Sunday evening, another weather system is on the way.  Significant flooding from rivers and surface water is possible in southern, central and north-eastern areas on Tuesday, with coastal flooding continuing due to high spring tides.

“Flood Alerts and Warnings are in place so stay up to date though our website. We will continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and review regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as required.

“We advise people to sign up to Floodline to receive free updates for where they live, or travel through, directly to their phone. People can also check our flood updates for all the latest information and view the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.” 

Be prepared

  • Check the Scottish Flood Forecast - developed in partnership with the Met Office, it provides the earliest indication possible of when and where flooding is expected over the next three days, and whether the source is from rivers, surface water or the sea.
  • Sign up to Floodline and receive free flood messages letting you know when the area where you live, work or travel through is at risk of flooding.  
  • Create a flood plan which includes knowing how to shut off your gas, water and electricity supplies.  
  • Consider installing flood protection at your home.

Stay safe

  • Follow the advice of emergency responders.
  • Don’t walk through flood water – 15cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet and hazards can be hidden under the water.    
  • Drive with care, and do not travel through deep fast flowing water. It only takes 30cm of fast flowing water to move an average family sized car.    
  • If you’re walking beside rivers be extra careful of wet footpaths and small watercourses.    
  • Stay away from flooded promenades and crashing waves around the coast.
  • Consider deploying flooding protection products if required.

Stay informed

Difference between Alert and Warning

  • We use forecast weather information provided by the Met Office combined with our own observation of rainfall and river levels and advanced hydrological modelling to provide advance warning of flooding.    
  • Regional Flood Alerts are early advice that flooding is possible across a wider geographical area. The purpose of the Alerts is to make people aware of the risk of flooding and be prepared. We normally issue them 12 to 24 hours in advance of the possibility of flooding.    
  • Flood Warnings are more locally specific and are issued for areas where we have forecast models and or monitoring. They are issued at shorter notice when we are more certain that a specific area will be affected.

SEPA urges the public to sign up for free flood messages following October’s severe weather

With parts of Scotland recording their wettest October on record, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are appealing for as many people as possible to sign up for free flood Alerts and Warnings.

SEPA are Scotland’s national flood forecasting and warning authority. Advance notice of flooding is provided using forecast weather information from the Met Office in combination with SEPA’s own rainfall and river level observations, and advanced hydrological modelling.

When flooding impacts are forecast, regional Alerts, local Warnings or, in worst case scenarios local Severe Warnings, are issued to those signed up to receive them via phone call or text.

Last month alone, more than 200 messages were issued to communities across Scotland experiencing flooding following prolonged and intense rainfall. The north-east of Scotland in particular faced very serious impacts during Storm Babet.

Pascal Lardet, Flood Warning Unit Manager at SEPA, said: “Around 4,000 people signed up to receive our Alerts and Warnings last month, demonstrating just how vital this information is during severe weather.

“However, we’re urging those who aren’t signed up yet not to wait until the next storm hits and take action now to sign up to our free Floodline service.

“It’s widely accepted that climate change is resulting in more extreme weather. Flooding will become more of a regular occurrence and it’s vital that communities are supported to prepare more effectively for the impacts to keep themselves and their families safe.

SEPA are continuing to expand Scotland’s flood warning service network and have recently added six local Flood Warning areas along the River Carron near Falkirk. Approximately 1,500 properties are at risk of flooding in these areas, which were identified in Scotland’s Flood Risk Management Plans as a priority.

Pascal Lardet added: “By using data from two gauging stations and a new flood forecasting model, SEPA are able to give between three to six hours advance warning of flood risk to those around the River Carron.

“Receiving our messages allows communities and businesses more time to act and reduce the risk of damage and disruption. This may involve deploying flood protection products, moving vehicles from at risk areas and changing travel plans.”

Sign up to receive free regional Flood Alert and local Flood Warning messages to your phone, for free, letting you know when the area where you live, work or travel through is at risk of flooding.

You can register online at floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup/.

12 Regional Flood Alerts and 16 Local Flood Warning issued

Mark Franklin, Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA’s) Flood Duty Manager, said: “Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across much of Scotland on Saturday and Sunday.

“Flooding impacts from rivers and surface water are possible across much of the south west and west of Scotland, including Argyll, much of central Scotland and extending across Tayside into Angus and Aberdeenshire.

“Impacts may include flooding of land and roads, disruption to travel and difficult driving conditions.

“There may also be disruption from spray and waves overtopping today along the Solway coast, west coast, the Caithness, Sutherland and Moray coastlines and around the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

“Flood alerts have been issued and people living, working and travelling in affected areas are advised to take extra care and ensure they have signed up to Floodline. You can also stay up to date with flood alerts and warnings at floodlinescotland.org.uk/.

 “The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for much of the  south and west of the country for Saturday.

“SEPA is working 24/7 to monitor rainfall and river levels, and is in close contact with the Met Office and other partners to review the forecasts, which are combined with local expertise from all regions of Scotland to understand and present the flooding risk. The most up-to-date information is always available on our website.”

Staying informed

  • All SEPA’s Alerts and Warnings are available on our website at floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodupdates/
  • Floodline is always the most up-to-date information – with any new flood updates available as soon as they are issued.
  • You can also sign up to receive these messages to your phone, for free. You can register online at floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup/
  • Advice on what you can do to prepare for flooding can be found at org.uk/

Be prepared and stay safe

  • Check Floodline – visit sepa.org.uk/floodupdates
  • Don’t walk through flood water – 15cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet and hazards can be hidden under the water.
  • On the road or on public transport we can expect difficult conditions.
  • Drive with care, and do not travel through deep fast flowing water. It only takes 30sm of fast flowing water to move an average family sized car.
  • If you are walking beside rivers be extra careful of wet footpaths and possibly small watercourses in spate.

What’s the difference between a Flood Alert and a Flood Warning?

We use forecast weather information provided by the Met Office combined with our own observation of rainfall and river levels and advanced hydrological modelling to provide advance warning of flooding.

  • Regional Flood Alerts are early advice that flooding is possible across a wider geographical area. The purpose of the Alerts is to make people aware of the risk of flooding and be prepared. We normally issue them 12 to 24 hours in advance of the possibility of flooding.
  • Flood Warnings are more locally specific and are issued for areas where we have gauges on rivers to measure the exact river height. They are issued at shorter notice when we are more certain that a specific area will be affected.

10 REGIONAL FLOOD ALERTS IN FORCE

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), this morning (Saturday 12th September 2020) confirmed that it had issued ten regional flood alerts for Scotland over the weekend period.

Mark Franklin, SEPA’s Duty Flood Manager, said: “With yet another wet weekend forecast for much of Scotland, SEPA has issued ten regional flood alerts.

“Persistent, and occasionally heavy rain will bring a gradual build-up of surface water and rising river levels during Saturday evening and into Sunday across many parts of the North, West and Central Highlands. This is likely to result in localised flooding of land and roads, as well as some transport disruption.

“Parts of Argyll, Easter Ross and Lochaber could experience flooding affecting communities and disruption to infrastructure due to the heaviest rain – and people living, working and travelling in these areas are advised to ensure they have signed up to Floodline and are prepared to take action to protect property. Advice on what you can do to prepare can be found at floodlinescotland.org.uk/

“North Ayrshire, the Central Highlands and the Ochils may also see impacts from rainfall, with localised flooding of known trouble spots likely.

“The Met Office has issued a weather warning for Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar and Strathclyde from 18:00 on Saturday 12 until 23:59 on Sunday 13 September.

“SEPA is working 24/7 to monitor rainfall and river levels, and is in close contact with the Met Office and other partners to review the forecasts, which are combined with local expertise from all regions of Scotland to understand and present the flooding risk. Flood Alerts and Warnings are likely to be issued during Saturday and the most up-to-date information is always available on our website.”

Staying informed

Be prepared and stay safe

  • Check Floodline – visit sepa.org.uk/floodupdates
  • Don’t walk through flood water – 15cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet and hazards can be hidden under the water.
  • On the road or on public transport we can expect difficult conditions.
  • Drive with care, and do not travel through deep fast flowing water. It only takes 30cm of fast flowing water to move an average family sized car.
  • If you are walking beside rivers be extra careful of wet footpaths and possibly small watercourses in spate.

What’s the difference between a Flood Alert and a Flood Warning?

We use forecast weather information provided by the Met Office combined with our own observation of rainfall and river levels and advanced hydrological modelling to provide advance warning of flooding.

  • Regional Flood Alerts are early advice that flooding is possible across a wider geographical area. The purpose of the Alerts is to make people aware of the risk of flooding and be prepared. We normally issue them 12 to 24 hours in advance of the possibility of flooding.
  • Flood Warnings are more locally specific and are issued for areas where we have gauges on rivers to measure the exact river height. They are issued at shorter notice when we are more certain that a specific area will be affected.

Today’s Area of Concern Map

  • Area A Persistent, and occasionally heavy rain will bring a gradual build-up of surface water and rising river levels during Saturday evening and into Sunday across many parts of the North, West and Central Highlands. This is likely to result in localised flooding of land and roads, as well as some transport disruption. Parts of Argyll, Easter Ross and Lochaber could experience flooding affecting communities and disruption to infrastructure due to the heaviest rain – and people living, working and travelling in these areas are advised to ensure they have signed up to Floodline and are prepared to take action to protect property. Advice on what you can do to prepare can be found at floodlinescotland.org.uk/
  • Area B North Ayrshire, the Central Highlands and the Ochils may also see impacts from rainfall, with localised flooding of known trouble spots likely. The Met Office has issued a weather warning for Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar and Strathclyde from 18:00 on Saturday 12 until 23:59 on Sunday 13 September.
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