A meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) – chaired by Justice Secretary and Minister for Resilience Angela Constance and attended by a number of Ministers – was held last night to ensure appropriate measures are in place to deal with the impacts of Storm Gerrit.
Met Office yellow warnings for rain, wind and snow were live until midnight across much of Scotland last night and a warning for wind and snow remained in place across Shetland until 06:00am today (Thursday 28 December).
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have also issued a number of flood alerts and warnings across the country.
Some train services and ferry services were cancelled and a major incident was declared by Police Scotland on the A9 at Dalnaspidal, which is now fully reopened between Inverness and Perth.
Winter weather response plans are in full effect with teams working hard across the transport network to restore services and routes as far as possible – with improvements in weather conditions anticipated today.
The storm has also left some homes across Scotland without power and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are working to restore power where it is safe to do so.
Ms Constance said:“Following a combination of rain, wind and snow across the country, I have chaired a meeting of SGoRR to ensure that we’re acting as quickly and safely as possible to mitigate the impacts of Storm Gerrit.
“We know that there are areas across the country where people are without power and SSEN are working to restore this where they can. Due to the strong winds, flooding and snow, it is not always safe for SSEN to access areas for repair. Local resilience partnerships are working to put in place welfare support for individuals who may be without power overnight.
“There have already been a number of disruptions across the transport network. It’s good to see that the incident on the A9 has been cleared and the road has now reopened but people should pass with care.
“Some roads remain closed with operatives working to reopen them as quickly as possible.
“Some railway lines will remain closed tomorrow (Thursday) morning as they require safety inspections within daylight hours. People should be mindful that there will still be areas where surface water continues to cause disruption – so we would urge everyone to plan their journeys in advance, exercise caution on the roads by driving appropriately to the conditions, and follow the latest travel advice at traffic.gov.scot.
“The Scottish Government’s resilience committee will continue to monitor the situation overnight and into Thursday, and keep Ministers fully updated.
“Advice and information for the public is available at Ready.Scot and the Scottish Government will continue to work with all relevant agencies to closely monitor the storm and its impacts and ensure support is provided to those affected.”
Joanne Maguire Scotrail’s Chief Operating Officer said:“ScotRail and Network Rail teams have been working flat out to keep people moving where possible, but we have faced extreme conditions in different parts of the country which has resulted in significant disruption. The safety of our staff and passengers is our top priority.
“We will be working overnight and early in the morning to inspect the railway and restore services, but disruption is expected to continue into Thursday. Our advice to passengers is to check before travelling via the ScotRail website or app.”
Householders across Scotland are being reminded not to let their festive clear outs add to waste crime by inadvertently giving their waste to criminals.
From unregistered individuals with a van advertising on social media, to serious and organised crime gangs, criminals see waste as a money-making enterprise and Scots could be unknowingly adding to the problem.
The landfill tax for household waste is currently £102.10 per tonne (for standard rate), and legitimate operators need to pay for permits and infrastructure, amongst other overheads, to operate environmentally sound sites that are compliant with regulations.
Waste dumped illegally in laybys, rural locations or holes in the ground instead of being recycled or disposed of in the correct manner means criminals are avoiding having to pay the costs a legal operator has to. Instead, the cost to clean-up abandoned waste is usually left to local authorities or landowners.
Additionally, waste dumped or burned means the opportunity for recycling or re-use of valuable materials could be lost.
Out of sight not out of mind
Criminals are resourceful, inventive and will find new ways to break the law – especially with a cash incentive. This includes amongst others – flytipping, burying waste in fields, burning of waste, cramming it into warehouses and even 40ft old HGV trailers.
Jennifer Shearer, SEPA’s Head of Enforcement said: “Illegal operators often hide what they plan to do with waste they collect, which can lead to fly-tipping in communities or large-scale disposal on private land. The first line of defence is stopping criminals getting their hands on waste in the first place.
“Services that sound too good to be true often are – and could lead to your waste being illegally fly-tipped. If you’re planning a clear out, you can help tackle waste crime by refusing to engage the services of people that are not authorised.
“Remember, if they dispose of it illegally and we can trace the waste back to you – you can be held to account and prosecuted or fined as well. A legitimate operator should be able to tell you their SEPA waste carrier licence number and the exact location your waste will be taken to. If they won’t provide those two pieces of information don’t give them your waste.”
Don’t support waste crime
Top four Dos and Don’ts of Household Waste Disposal
DO use common sense. If you are approached out of the blue with an offer to dispose of your waste so quickly and cheaply it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
DON’T entrust your waste to someone if they are unable to tell you basic information like their waste carrier registration number and the named site they are taking the waste to.
DO take responsibility for who you give waste to – if illegally disposed of waste is traced back to you then you could face enforcement action too.
DO check that the company you are thinking of hiring to remove your waste is registered with SEPA
Landowners must be alert to the risk of their land or premises being used for illegal waste deposits and trailer or vehicle owners should also be aware of the risk of theft for use in illegal waste disposal activities.
Report suspicious sites and behaviours to SEPA 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our pollution hotline online or by calling 0800 80 70 60.
As the festive season kicks off, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are encouraging people to sign up for free flood Alerts and Warnings to help ensure community safety and smooth travel.
Whether you’re driving home for Christmas or planning festive outings during the holidays, SEPA’s free Floodline messaging service provides current information and advice about flooding in Scotland so you can prepare for any travel disruption or local impacts.
As Scotland’s national flood forecasting and warning authority, SEPA work with the Met Office to monitor river, coastal and rainfall sites across the country 24/7. When flooding impacts are forecast, we issue regional Alerts, local Warnings or, in worst case scenarios local Severe Warnings, via phone call or text.
Michael Cranston, Lead Specialist in Flood Forecasting and Warning at SEPA, said: “Being prepared for severe weather events is essential, especially at this time of year when people are clocking off from their usual schedules and travelling to see loved ones.
“Don’t let the weather put a dampener on celebrations. By signing up to our Floodline service, you can prepare for adverse driving conditions and plan your journey in advance.
“We are committed to continuing to keep communities informed and as safe as possible, and we urge those who aren’t signed up to Floodline yet to take action now.”
In October alone, more than 200 messages were issued to communities across Scotland experiencing flooding following intense rainfall during Storm Babet.
SEPA are continuing to expand the national flood warning service network and have recently added six local Flood Warning areas along the River Carron near Falkirk.
Sign up to Floodline free of charge online to receive messages directly to your phone, letting you know when the area where you live, work or travel through is at risk of flooding.
Follow @SEPAFlood on X, formerly Twitter, for the latest updates including our three-day Scottish Flood Forecast or visit our website for a view of all the latest Flood Updates and further information looking ahead so you can see what conditions to expect.
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.
In 2024 98% of Scotland’s bathing waters will again meet or exceed the Sufficient classification – with 84% achieving the higher standards of Excellent or Good, says the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
This long-term positive trend for Scottish bathing water quality has been demonstrated in sampling and analysis carried out by Scotland’s environment regulator over the summer.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) work with regulated operators and stakeholders across the country and have driven millions of pounds of investment to bring about changes needed to make our bathing waters a success story.
In 2024 98% of Scotland’s bathing waters will again meet or exceed the Sufficient classification. ✅84% Good or Excellent ✅Wardie Bay and Fisherrow Sands, both added this season, will achieve Good. ➡️Read more in our media release at https://t.co/pLdeSfjIoP ➡️Check the… pic.twitter.com/KFMeDbD3PG
— Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) (@ScottishEPA) November 21, 2023
For the 2024 bathing season Scotland’s bathing water classifications will be:
38 (43%) Excellent
37 (42%) Good
12 (13%) Sufficient
2 (2%) Poor
Ruth Stidson, SEPA’s Principal Scientist for bathing waters, said: “Scotland started this bathing water season with more bathing waters than ever and a record-breaking number rated excellent. I’m delighted to say we’ll start next year just as strongly.
“Our bathing waters have the best water quality since 2015, when tighter standards first came into force. We now have an additional five designated bathing waters where we monitor water quality to protect human health. Over this time those with the highest excellent classification has increased from 17 to 38, and the number with a poor classification has fallen from 17 to two.
“Being outdoors can provide many physical and mental health benefits. Our beaches offer opportunities for physical activities and social interaction and earlier this year I saw personally how much having a designated bathing water meant to the local community at Wardie Bay.
“SEPA’s monitoring data has provided crucial evidence to drive millions in investment and we’ve worked with businesses, farmers and land managers across the country to help them understand how they can make changes to protect water quality.
“All these successes show that, while it can take time to see big improvements, they are possible – and SEPA will keep monitoring, reporting, enforcing, encouraging and challenging for the future of our water environment.”
Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “Scotland now has the highest number of designated Bathing Water sites ever, with the vast majority classified as good or excellent.
“This demonstrates the benefits of our continued investment in protecting and improving bathing waters across the country. However we are not complacent and will continue to work closely with SEPA and Scottish Water to monitor and improve water quality, to make sure that as many people as possible are able to enjoy them.”
Success stories for 2024
Scotland’s newest bathing water, Wardie Bay in Edinburgh, will be rated as Good for its first classification in 2024. The location was designated by Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Màiri McAllan, following an application from Wardie Bay Beachwatch and The Wild Ones
Just along the coast in East Lothian, the first bathing water in Scotland to be re-designated will also be classified as Good. Fisherrow Sands was de-designated in 2020 following five years of Poor classifications.
It was re-designated following work between SEPA, the Scottish Government, Scottish Water, East Lothian Council and wider stakeholders to drive improvements. Over £3 million has been spent on works to upgrade wastewater pumping stations, resolve multiple misconnections and make improvements to the sewer network to reduce spills.
Future challenges
Pressures on bathing waters can include overflows from the drainage network and misconnections from homes and businesses.
Agricultural run-off and bacteria from dog fouling and gulls can also be factors. Some sites have a legacy of complex inter-linked issues that need individual assessments and unique solutions.
The two bathing waters with a Poor classification, Kinghorn (Harbour Beach) and Lower Largo, both have ongoing improvement plans in place.
Kinghorn (Harbour Beach) had been achieving Sufficient after previous work was carried out by Scottish Water. Following a Poor classification last year, an enhanced monitoring program has been carried out to identify potential sources of pollution, SEPA will continue to work with regulated operators and stakeholders to explore solutions to improve water quality at this location.
At Lower Largo, SEPA has required Scottish Water to conduct comprehensive studies into the sewerage infrastructure to identify any necessary upgrade requirements.
Surveillance and monitoring has included CCTV and flow surveys of the sewer network; intensive water quality sampling of the sea and watercourses; a survey (via boats) to map the seabed; tidal current profile and dispersion testing to understand how discharges disperse to the sea and nearby rivers.
This work also identified some misconnected properties, which have now been connected to the public sewerage system correctly.
Significant further work and investment are ongoing towards achieving the infrastructure improvements in the Lower Largo area necessary to bring about improved bathing water quality.
Scottish Water discharged sewage 58,304 times in the last 5 years from just 4% of overflows
The latest water quality report from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) highlights a severe lack of accountability from Scottish Water.
Untreated sewage has been discharged by Scottish Water at least 14,008 times in 2022 alone.
Only 4% of Scottish Water’s 3,641 overflows are reported on, meaning these statistics are likely a huge underestimation.
Many popular bathing sites across Scotland, such as Portobello in Edinburgh, have no reporting whatsoever.
New Surfers Against Sewage Community Group will monitor water quality in Portobello area.
mike@mikeguest.co.uk
A new report released today by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) emphasises Scotland’s sewage blind spot due to a lack of reporting by Scottish Water.
Analysis of EDM data by SAS found that untreated sewage has been released into Scottish rivers and seas at least 58,304 times over the last 5 years. However, just 161 out of the 3,641 sewage overflows in Scotland were reported on during this time period meaning this figure is a gross underestimation of reality, with the true number of discharges likely to be in the 100,000s.
Under 4% of sewage overflows in Scotland are required to be reported on, a stark contrast to England and Wales where nearly 100% are monitored. This leaves the Scottish public in the dark about the performance of the other 96% of overflows and the impact these are having on Scottish rivers and coastline.
The little data that is reported by Scottish Water is patchy, according to SAS. Three sewage overflows that previously were reported on annually are now only required to report during the bathing season due to the license agreement approved by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Additionally, some overflows that were previously monitored now go entirely unreported and are labelled as having ‘no license requirement for reporting’.
mike@mikeguest.co.uk
Giles Bristow, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, said:“Yet again, our annual water quality report reveals the complacency and disregard of governments, water companies and regulators towards the health of rivers and coastlines in Scotland and across the UK – and by extension people’s health.
“How much do our blue spaces need to suffocate in sewage before those we elect to keep us safe and protect our environment wake up and smell the shit?
“We are seeing failure at every level – from governments and regulators failing to enforce the law, to water companies refusing to clean up their act – with the general public ending up the biggest loser every time.
“How many times can we say ‘enough is enough’? Our leaders need to prioritise transparency, ensure laws and regulations are properly enforced, and prevent water companies from continuing to pollute our blue spaces.”
Sicknesses due to sewage pollution reported to SAS reached 1,924 UK cases in the last year – nearly triple the number of cases reported a year prior. These cases resulted in 1,987 days taken off sick, which translates to 5 years of work lost to ill health caused by polluted waters.
Many of these sicknesses have led to hospitalisation, events cancelled, earnings lost, and businesses closed. As this data only covers cases reported to SAS, these numbers are likely to be the tip of the iceberg.
The Porty Water Collective was set up in response to the ongoing poor state of water quality in Portobello, which is impacted by several sewage overflows bringing sewage downstream into the sea via the Figgate Burn (known locally as the ‘Figgy Burn’).
Portobello is a popular beach with thousands of visitors, but notably has no reporting whatsoever. Users of the beach rarely have any idea if the area is safe to enjoy, or if they will unknowingly be swimming in sewage.
The Collective is conducting regular testing in the area with support from SAS to monitor water quality and raise awareness in the absence of any reporting from Scottish Water.
Charlie Allanson-Oddy, founding member of the Porty Water Collective and an SAS regional representative, said: “It’s obvious from walking the beaches, from the number of baby wipes, that there is a massive sewage-related problem – something that is ignored by SEPA and Scottish Water.
“What we know – from testing conducted in 2021, and now from the Collective’s current water quality testing backed by SAS – is that there are dangerously high levels of E. coli and chloroforms in the Figgy Burn from CSOs further upstream. Not all the locals know this.”
Scottish Water has made a promise to install monitoring equipment on 1,000 of the highest priority sewage overflows by 2024 with the remaining 2,600 to be considered in terms of cost and benefit.
SAS are calling on the Scottish Government to direct Scottish Water to install event duration monitoring on all overflows and for that data to be freely and easily accessible to the public in real-time so the Scottish public can make informed decisions when entering the water.
Additionally, SAS want the Scottish Government to set progressive sewage reduction targets to end untreated discharges into bathing waters, popular water usage areas, and high priority nature sites by 2030.
This year SAS developed the End Sewage Pollution Manifesto, which sets out the policies needed to clean up our rivers and seas.
Created in collaboration with environmental charities, sports governing bodies and community groups around the UK, the manifesto suggests a five-point plan to make the UK’s waters healthy and safe to enjoy again:
• Enforce the law and regulations
• Stop pollution for profit
• Prioritise high-risk pollution events
• Empower a nature-led approach to tackling sewage pollution
• Reveal the truth by ensuring UK-wide transparency on sewage pollution.
Businesses from across Scotland have been recognised at the 24th annual VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards.
Teaching sustainable survival skills to children, producing craft beers with sustainability at their core, and designing and manufacturing thermal storage batteries are just some of the efforts from organisations across Scotland recognised at the 2023 VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards.
Climate change remains top of the agenda for Scottish businesses, particularly food and drink producers who experienced another challenging summer due to water scarcity. VIBES recognises the drive for positive and radical environmental action as well as setting the bar high for other businesses to follow.
There were 11 winners and 4 commendations, which included three new awards categories: the Just Transition Scotland Award, the Vision in Business Scotland Award and the STV Green Fund Award at the annual awards which took place in Glasgow on Wednesday 8th November.
The winners and commendations from VIBES 2023 – Scottish Environment Business Awards are:
Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best Large Business
Sponsor – Chivas Brothers, Pernod Ricard
Winner = Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK Limited
Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best Medium Business
Sponsor – NDA
Winner = Scotmas Group
Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best Small Business
Sponsor – University of Stirling Management School
Winner = Windswept Brewing Co
Commendation = Dear Green Coffee Roasters
Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best New Business
Sponsor – NetRegs
Winner = ReBlade
Product Scotland Award
Sponsor – The Glenmorangie Company
Winner = Sunamp
Service Scotland Award
Sponsor – Zero Waste Scotland
Winner = The Alba Explorers Ltd
Commendation = Changeworks
Nature Rich Scotland Award
Sponsor – The Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Commendation = Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
Circular Scotland Award
Sponsor – Optimum Eco Group
Winner = Brewster Brothers
Commendation = The Furniture Project (Stranraer) Ltd
Just Transition Scotland Award
Sponsor – The University of Edinburgh
Winner = RI Cruden Ltd
Sustainable Transport Scotland Award
Sponsor – HARRIS MAXUS
Winner = Ember
Energy Transition Scotland Award
Sponsor – SSE Energy Solutions
Winner = RSE (Ross-shire Engineering)
Green Fund Award
Sponsor – STV
Winner = Ember
Ember, an Edinburgh based fully electric intercity bus travel company, grabbed two awards on the night, including a £30K campaign partnership with STV. Harvey Logan, Founders Associate, said:
“We are pleased to have won the VIBES Sustainable Transport Scotland award. Decarbonisation is at the heart of Ember and drives every aspect of our work. VIBES provides recognition of everything we’ve achieved so far, and the showcase of sustainable practices from all across Scottish business only inspires us to continue building and further grow our positive impact.”
“Winning the STV Green Fund Award is a fantastic added bonus. We are looking forward to using this airtime to share how we have embraced sustainability and inspire others to join us as we forge a path to net zero transport in Scotland.”
Gillian Bruce, Chair of VIBES, added: “Year on year, we see more businesses and organisations working towards net zero carbon emissions and reducing their impact on nature.
“It is a challenging journey but a necessary one if we are to stay below the global warming limit. Once again, this year’s VIBES winners are clearly demonstrating business cases for reducing their environmental footprint – highlighting the social benefits, as well as the positive economic impacts.
“Our hope is the efforts of our winners will encourage and inspire others to develop their environmental practices.”
Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “The VIBES Awards highlight the significant steps many of our businesses are taking to help Scotland tackle the major challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
“It was fantastic to see five businesses and community groups from the South make it to the final stage, displaying the commitment of our region to sustainability and the Just Transition to Net Zero.
“There is great work going on in the South of Scotland and we look forward to more local businesses being acknowledged for their outstanding Net Zero efforts in the coming years by the VIBES Awards.”
You can find out more information about all the winners and commendations on the VIBES website.
Significant storm impacts to continue this weekend
The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) met last night as more exceptional levels of rain were expected to hit parts of the country this weekend, causing further disruption and challenging conditions.
The meeting was chaired by the First Minister after a further high level Red Warning was issued by the Met Office for parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire from 00:01 to 23:59 Saturday.
People are urged not to travel and to stay at home in the affected areas, unless advised to relocate to a rest centre, with ‘exceptional’ levels of rain likely to result in significant disruption and danger to life.
Amber warnings for rain will be in place for Easter Ross, Caithness and Sutherland on Saturday. In these Amber areas it is being advised people should avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has reported that record water levels have now been recorded at a number of its gaugeing stations, and that five Severe Flood Warnings are currently in place, as well as 11 regional Flood Alerts, and 16 local Flood Warning.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Storm Babet has now, tragically, claimed lives, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances.
“I want to pay tribute to everyone across the multi-agency response to Storm Babet who continue to operate, often in incredibly difficult conditions to keep the people of Scotland safe.
“Unfortunately, it is clear we have not seen the last of this storm. Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas that have already been severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall.
“It was always expected that the impacts of the storm would continue even once the most severe aspects of the storm itself had subsided, but a new Red Weather alert makes the ongoing severity of this situation clear. My very clear message to those covered by the Red Warning remains: please stay at home and do not travel, unless advised to relocate to a rest centre.
“A number of Amber and Yellow Weather Warnings meanwhile remain in place throughout many parts of the rest of the country. I urge everyone, however difficult this might feel over the weekend – particularly sports fans – to keep following the latest advice in order to keep you, and your families, safe.”
Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stuart Houston said: “We are dealing with exceptional weather conditions which have been extremely challenging for all involved.
“With the red warning being extended until midnight Saturday, this remains a dangerous situation which poses a threat to life.
“We are working hard with a range of multi-agency partners to support communities and those who need our help. Communities in Tayside are dealing with some of the most difficult conditions they have faced, with a number of road closures in place due to hazardous conditions and evacuations continuing of those affected by flooding.
“I would like to thank the public for their co-operation and for sticking to the travel advice in place to keep people safe and would again urge people to continue to follow the advice and listen to media broadcast, including radio, for updates. Follow your local authority for the latest updates in your area as well as police, the Met Office website and Traffic Scotland.
“Our advice is to avoid any form of travel in areas covered by the red weather warning – we are dealing with significant flooding issues, which pose a threat to life.”
Pascal Lardet, SEPA Flood Duty Manager, said: “These are very difficult days for communities in Scotland who are experiencing flooding, in some cases for the second time in a month. There is more rain to come, and SEPA staff are working around the clock to provide vital information to partners and the public.
“We started issuing Regional Flood Alerts on Tuesday to provide early awareness and help people prepare, and these are being updated as required. We continue to monitor river levels and issue localised Flood Warnings as required.
“However, it is important to stress that not all areas that could be affected have Flood Warning schemes, so please do take a Flood Alert in your area as advance notice that you could be affected.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issues regional flood alerts and local flood warnings for Scotland. View the latest updates on their website.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have begun issuing localised Flood Warnings as Storm Babet approaches.
Rain is already moving across the country, with flooding impacts expected to start this afternoon and into the early evening. The heaviest and most prolonged rainfall is expected over Aberdeen City, Dundee & Angus, Tayside, Aberdeenshire and Caithness & Sutherland, where some exceptional levels are forecast over the next 24 hours.
Extensive river and surface water flooding is expected, with widespread impacts to transport and infrastructure. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding – and there will be danger to life.
Other parts of Scotland are also at risk of flooding as rivers respond and drainage systems become overwhelmed. The risk of river flooding is exacerbated by the fact that many catchments are already saturated following recent heavy rainfall events. There is also concern that surface water flooding may be made worse by debris blocking drainage and culverts as a result of the high winds.
An additional band of rain is forecast to impact the east of the country on Saturday, which will prolong the event and keep rivers high. It is important people keep up to date by following weather information from the Met Office and flooding advice from SEPA.
Expert staff in SEPA’s flooding team are working round the clock to check forecasts and models, update Flood Alerts, issue Food Warnings and ensure that partners and responder agencies have the latest information.
Pascal Lardet, SEPA Flood Duty Manager, said: “There is exceptional rainfall forecast for parts of Scotland over the next 24 hours, and this will lead to significant flooding from both surface water and rivers.
“Regional Flood Alerts were issued over the last two days to provide early awareness, and localised Flood Warnings started to be issued this morning. More will be issued across the day, so I do encourage people to check our Flood Updates for all the latest information. You can also follow @SEPAFlood on X. However, it is important to stress that not all areas that could be affected have Flood Warning schemes, so please do take a Flood Alert in your area as advance notice that you could be affected.
“Follow the advice of the emergency services and take action now to protect yourself and your property. Hazards can be hidden, so please don’t walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30 cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.”
SEPA continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7. As well as live information at Flood Updates, people can check the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) last night after the highest level Red Weather Warning was issued for the North East of Scotland.
Attended by resilience partners, Transport Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and emergency services, the meeting set out the significant action being taken to protect the public and mitigate the severe disruption expected over the next few days.
This includes multi-agency resilience arrangements being stood up across the country to co-ordinate the on-the-ground response and support anyone affected by flooding and severe weather.
The Red Warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Angus and South Aberdeenshire, valid between Thursday evening (6pm) and Friday afternoon (12pm).
People are urged to not to travel and to stay at home in the affected areas with ‘exceptional’ levels of rain likely to result in significant disruption and danger to life.
There is a further Amber Warning for rain covering parts of Stirling, Perthshire, Aviemore, Moray, Angus, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City from Thursday morning (0600) until Friday evening (1800). In these Amber areas it is being advised people should avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
In addition, an Amber Warning for wind was issued this morning for eastern Angus and eastern Aberdeenshire, valid between 1000 and 1800 on Thursday.
Ms Robison said: “Red Warnings are rarely issued by the Met Office and this reflects how serious the impacts will be from the exceptional weather we can expect – particularly in the North East of Scotland in the next two days.
“The strong message is that if you are in the parts of Angus and South Aberdeenshire affected – please stay at home and do not travel.
“Other parts of Scotland are also at risk of flooding as rivers respond and drainage systems become overwhelmed. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that many catchments are already saturated following last week’s heavy rainfall and flooding.
“No one should take the risks for granted and I would urge everyone in the country to prepare where necessary, heed the travel warnings issued by Police Scotland and take extreme care around fast-flowing water.
“Regional resilience partnerships have been activated and the Scottish Government is working very closely with them and with all partner agencies to ensure that all possible preparations are made and that everyone has full and immediate access to the most up-to-date information.
“I am grateful for the efforts of partners and volunteers in making preparations to help the public stay safe.
“Anyone seeking live updates should follow these partner organisations on social media, and can also consult the Ready Scotland website for general advice on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather emergencies.”
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “Our advice is to avoid any form of travel in those areas covered by the red weather warning.
“Driving conditions are expected to be extremely dangerous with disruption and significant delays during this period.
“In those areas covered by amber warnings for rain and wind, we would urge drivers, particularly those of high-sided vehicles, to consider if their journeys are essential or if they could be delayed until conditions improve.
“Don’t ignore road closure signs – they are for your safety.”
Pascal Lardet, SEPA Flood Duty Manager, said: “Scotland has already experienced a significant flood event this month, which communities are still recovering from, and some of the rainfall totals forecast for this week are higher than experienced over that weekend – albeit in some different areas.
“We’re expecting extensive river and surface water flooding in affected areas, with widespread impacts to transport and infrastructure. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding – and there will be danger to life.
“Regional Flood Alerts have already been issued, and localised Flood Warnings will be issued over the next few days as rivers respond. However, it is important to note that not all areas that could be affected have Flood Warning schemes, so please do take a Flood Alert in your area as advance notice that you could be affected.
“Take action now to protect yourself and your property. Hazards can be hidden, so please don’t walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30 cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.”
Dave Thompson, Director of Claims at Tesco Bank, comments: “Parts of the UK and Ireland will be bracing for flooding with Storm Babet expected to bring heavy rain.
“For those who live in areas with an immediate risk of flooding, it is essential households prepare as much as possible for downpours. For example, ensure electrics and electrical appliances are disconnected and gas and water supplies are switched off.
“If your property is flooded, do not switch any of your electrical supplies back on until the flooding is over and they have been checked by a professional.
“Floodwater can also ruin more important and valuable items in your home, so make sure documents such as passports or more cherished items are sealed in plastic wallets and moved upstairs or to a safe place in your property. Then you can think about moving furniture and soft furnishings to a safer place.
“Water can also carry your furniture about your home and cause even more damage, so for heavier items it’s worth thinking about weighing down or securing all the pieces that are too heavy for you to move.
“Having an emergency flood survival kit could also help keep you and your family safe and warm should a flood occur. In your kit, you may want to include first aid equipment, bottled water, food, a torch (in case you lose power), an emergency contacts sheet, prescribed medication, blankets, clothing, insurance documents and money. If you have infants or elderly people in your household, you should also pack any special items they may need.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have started issuing Flood Alerts ahead of expected flooding from Thursday, caused by Storm Babet.
Those living, working and staying in Scotland are being warned that the heavy rain will bring surface and river flooding, with some areas forecast to receive well in excess of the monthly October average rainfall within a 36-48 hour period.
The main concern currently is around parts of eastern and central Scotland, which could see exceptionally wet conditions. Other parts of southern and central Scotland are also likely to see significant amounts of rain. The storm may impact some of the communities still recovering from flooding experienced over the weekend of 6th and 7th October.
It’s important to keep up to date with the weather information from the Met Office and flooding advice from SEPA, as areas may change as the forecast becomes clearer.
David Morgan, SEPA’s Duty Flood Manager, said: “The forecast for the end of this week is showing extremely high rainfall totals, and people should be thinking now about the action they can take to protect themselves and their property.
“If you haven’t already signed up for Floodline, I would strongly advise you to do so. The service is free and can give you advance notice of flooding in your area.
“Scotland experienced a significant rainfall event that caused extensive flooding in local communities only a few days ago, and with catchments still saturated we’re urging people to be prepared for flooding. We are looking at some forecast totals that are even higher over the next few days, so please do use this time to plan and prepare.
“Further regional Flood Alerts and localised Flood Warnings will be issued as required over the coming days. We continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7. People can check our Flood Updates for all the latest information and the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.”
As Scotland’s flood warning and informing authority, SEPA continue to work closely with partners and responder agencies to share the latest information. An early alert of potential impacts was provided on Sunday through SEPA’s Flood Guidance Statement and information sharing will continue throughout the event.
People are advised to:
Register for SEPA’s free Floodline message service by calling 0345 988 1188 or by clicking www.floodlinescotland.org.uk
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.
Consider deploying flooding protection products if required.
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.
