Tag: severe weather

Storm Darragh: Travel Advice

Travel and safety advice has been issued following a Met Office Amber weather warning for high winds associated with Storm Darragh today (Saturday, 7th December 2024) between 1am and 9pm.

All road users should consider if they really need to travel during the adverse weather or if travel can be delayed until conditions improve.

The Scottish areas affected by the Amber warning are:

  • Dumfries and Galloway
  • South Ayrshire

Please visit the Met Office website for more detailed information about the weather warning. Yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for parts of Scotland.

Please also be aware of weather warnings in place for other parts of the UK, including a Red weather warning for high winds across parts of Wales and avoid unnecessary travel to areas affected.

Motorists are advised there is a high risk of disruption in the areas affected by the warning and there may be significant delays. Conditions may be hazardous due to the high winds and extra caution should be exercised.

Travellers with bookings on ferries should check with operators for updates on crossings.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1865037333533180020

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of Road Policing, said: “Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their route to avoid exposed areas, or consider delaying your journey until conditions improve.

“Plan ahead and keep updated by checking the Met Office and Traffic Scotland websites and social media.”

The Ready Scotland website has useful information about adverse weather, including how to secure your home from the danger of storms.

Advice for road users:

  • If you are travelling on the roads, prepare yourself and your vehicle for the conditions
  • Ensure your mobile phone is charged and plan your journey, including an alternative route
  • Have sufficient fuel, warm clothing, food and water in case you’re delayed
  • Do not ignore road closure signs – they are for your safety
  • Do not put yourself in danger trying to clear roads of debris
  • Congestion caused by vehicles may restrict emergency services and recovery vehicles from providing essential assistance
  • Listen to media broadcasts, including radio, for updates Traffic Scotland radio player | Traffic Scotland or visit Traffic Scotland | Trunk road traffic updates & route planner
  • Follow your local authority for the latest updates in your area via Facebook, X or their website
  • Other information can be found on the Met Office, Ready Scot. For public transport information visit www.travelinescotland.
  • Follow @policescotland and @trafficscotland on X for up-to-date travel information.

Wind

  • HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware you may be asked to park at a suitable position by the police.
  • Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their route to avoid exposed areas or consider cancelling your journey until conditions improve.
  • Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians should consider the risk of being blown over or into the path of other road users.

SEPA: Flooding expected as Storm Darragh arrives

Regional Flood Alerts are in place as Storm Darragh is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to much of Scotland on Friday and Saturday.

Localised flooding from surface water and high river levels is possible across parts of southern, central and north-eastern Scotland. This could lead to impacts such as disruption to travel and flooding of low-lying land, roads and isolated properties.

The Met Office also has warnings in place for potentially damaging winds associated with Storm Darragh. High winds may cause dangerous conditions in coastal areas due to wave overtopping and sea spray. 

David Morgan, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “The arrival of Storm Darragh is expected to cause disruption across Scotland today and tomorrow. There’s a risk of surface water and river flooding in central, southern and north-eastern areas due to persistent, and at times heavy, rainfall.

“People living, working and travelling in affected areas are advised to consider any steps they need to take now to be prepared and stay safe. Take care when travelling and plan your journey in advance as impacts may include roads being flooded and disruption to the rail network.

“We have issued Flood Alerts and continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7. Regional Alerts and local Flood Warnings will be reviewed throughout the weekend and updated as necessary.

“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.”

Prepare and be aware

  • Check the Scottish Flood Forecast: Combining the Met Office’s cutting-edge weather forecasts with SEPA’s data and expertise, the Scottish Flood Forecast provides a clear, three-day outlook that shows when and where flooding is expected, whether from rivers, surface water, or the sea in Scotland. It can also reassure you if flooding is not expected.
  • Sign Up to Floodline for text, phone call, or email messages for the area where you live or work, allowing you to take action and prepare when flooding is expected.
  • Follow SEPA on social media: SEPA provide information on predicted flooding in advance through the dedicated @SEPAFlood account on X and its Facebook page.

Visit SEPA’s flooding pages today to access these tools and find out more about how to prepare for and be aware of potential flooding.

Stay safe

  • 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.
  • Consider deploying flooding protection products if required.

Stay informed

What’s the difference between a flood alert and a flood warning?

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 to measure the exact water height. They are issued at shorter notice when we are more certain that a specific area will be affected.

Motorists are being urged to take extra safety precautions before heading out on the road in heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snowfall.

Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk are urging drivers to ensure their cars are roadworthy in all weather conditions and have researched tips for protecting vehicles during storm season.

With storm warnings announced across the country, Brits are being urged to avoid getting behind the wheel, but for those who need to head out on necessary journeys, it’s crucial to take extra precautions to stay safe on the roads.

A survey revealed a third of drivers admit to not slowing down in wet weather and nearly one in three have driven over the speed limit despite these dangerous conditions.

According to The Highway Code, in wet weather the stopping distances are at least double those required on dry roads because water reduces the grip the tyres have on the road.

This means the distance between cars, which the Highway Code recommends as two seconds in dry conditions, should also be doubled, or even tripled in wet conditions.

This should allow drivers sufficient time to react and come to a full stop if needed without hitting the car in front of them.

If a road is flooded, drivers should turn around and find an alternative route as driving through flood water can lead to loss of control and serious damage to vehicles – which car insurance is unlikely to cover.

Motorists should also be mindful of strong winds and keep a strong grip on the steering wheel at all times to prevent being swayed off course, especially when driving past gaps in trees or buildings where they’re more likely to be exposed to side winds.

It’s also important to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and are able to handle heavy rain and strong winds.

Essential checks include ensuring the tyres have adequate tread depth and are properly inflated, windscreen wipers are fully clearing the screen, brake pads and batteries are fully operational and the correct lights are on and working properly.

It’s illegal not to turn your lights on in bad weather when visibility is poor and drivers could face a 12-month ban and £1000 fine. It’s also important to know which light should be used when the weather starts to deteriorate.

Know Your Lights in bad weather:

Headlights – when visibility is reduced

Daytime running lights – activate rear set of lights in poor visibility

Dipped headlights – in dull daytime weather or heavy rain

Fog lights – in foggy conditions so drivers can spot you at a distance

Automatic lights – if these come as standard in your vehicle, double check they are activated in bad weather, as they may not come on automatically in certain conditions such as fog

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “With heavy rainfall and strong winds expected across the country, we’re urging drivers to take a proactive approach to safety.

“Before getting behind the wheel it’s crucial to carry out a few checks to ensure your vehicle is in top condition. Checking tyre pressure, tread depth, lights, and wipers can make a significant difference in how your car handles adverse weather.

“Many motorists underestimate the impact of weather on driving conditions and failing to adapt your driving style to the conditions can have serious consequences.

“It’s important to reduce speed, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and be vigilant for potential hazards like flooding and debris.

“Drivers should also check what type of insurance they have – while most comprehensive car insurance policies cover storm damage, motorists who have taken out third-party only or third-party, fire and theft insurance won’t normally be covered.

“Also, drivers who actively drive through flood water are likely to invalidate their insurance and lose protection for any damage – given it was an avoidable situation, and the driver has a duty to safeguard the vehicle.”

Quotezone’s tips for driving in stormy weather:

  1. Check your car is roadworthy

Before setting off in stormy conditions, it’s essential to ensure your vehicle is fully prepared for the journey. The essential checks include ensuring the tyre tread depth meets the legal requirements and that the tyres are properly inflated to provide maximum traction on wet roads. It’s also important to make sure that all lights and wipers are functioning correctly, as visibility can be drastically reduced in heavy rain.

  1. Reduce speed

Drivers need to reduce speed to improve vehicle control and allow themselves time to react in unexpected situations such as sudden stops or fallen trees on the road. This is because the stopping distances double on wet roads due to the reduced grip that tyres have on the water.

  1. Increase distances

It’s important to leave a larger gap between your vehicle and the one in front to give yourself ample time to react in case the car ahead stops suddenly.  Aim for at least a four-second gap in wet conditions, and consider increasing it further during heavy rain or when visibility is limited.

  1. Don’t drive through a flood

Flooded roads pose significant risks, including the possibility of losing control, stalling or damaging the engine. Even shallow water can conceal hazards like deep potholes or debris.  Also, most car insurance policies won’t cover you for damage if you drive through flooded water.

  1. Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel

Strong winds can make it difficult to maintain control of your vehicle, especially when driving through open areas where you’re more exposed to side winds. A firm grip on the steering wheel helps you react quickly to unexpected gusts of wind.

  1. Beware of aquaplaning

Aquaplaning occurs when water builds up between the tyres and the road, causing the vehicle to lose traction and making it difficult to steer and brake. If you feel the steering becomes lighter or the car begins to slide, ease off the accelerator, don’t brake and allow your car to slow down naturally.

  1. Use the right light

In heavy rain or poor visibility, it’s important to double check your lights are on, dipped headlights allow other drivers to see you more easily. They’ll be seen from a much greater distance than sidelights and they won’t dazzle other drivers or pedestrians.

Quotezone helps millions of drivers right across the UK find essential savings and better insurance across a whole range of products such as car, van and motorbike insurance. 

Storm Arwen: Learning the Lessons

New processes in place one year on

Organisations across Scotland have put in place a series of measures to protect communities from the effects of severe weather ahead of winter.

It follows a review of the Storm Arwen response published in January 2022, which set out 15 recommendations for the Scottish Government and its partners.

A report published today updates on progress since then, with a range of improvements put in place ahead of winter. These include:

  • A full winter readiness exercise carried out by emergency responders across every area in Scotland by the end of November
  • A new online learning and training hub to help individuals, community groups and the voluntary sector to prepare, respond and recover from emergencies
  • The development of a new process to monitor and evaluate Scotland’s resilience system annually to identify and resolve issues quickly and effectively
  • Increased integration and engagement with the voluntary sector, and expansion of local directories of assets and capabilities to support resilience activity

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, Keith Brown, said: “The Scottish Government committed to a full review of the circumstances of Storm Arwen, and this report demonstrates clearly the range of work that is underway to ensure that lessons are learned. 

“Our responder community, including our blue light services and our local authorities, will put these recommendations in place and we will support them to ensure our resilience arrangements continue to strengthen to protect communities.”

Chair of the Scottish Resilience Partnership Jim Savege said: “Responders have worked hard through the year, reviewing the risks we need to be prepared for, planning and exercising and making sure we are as prepared as we all can be for any future events and incidents we may have to respond to.

“More than ever, emergency services have considered wider risks that may be realised, and the growing reality of having to deal with concurrent risks and incidents.

“Significant additional work has been invested this year into working with voluntary organisations and communities to ensure their resilience and their ability to deal with incidents has been enhanced. Community and business resilience are the bedrock upon which emergency services work and respond.

“The SRP is grateful for all of the work that so many colleagues have invested in ensuring we are as prepared as we can be for the winter ahead.”

Strengthening Scotland’s resilience to severe weather

Lessons to be learned from Storm Arwen

A range of changes are to be put in place to strengthen national resilience and protect lives, homes and infrastructure from the impacts of future severe weather events.

A review of the preparations for and response to Storm Arwen sets out 15 recommendations for the Scottish Government and its partners, the Scottish Resilience Partnership, local resilience partnerships, utility companies, the voluntary sector and national responders.  

Key recommendations include improved processes for identifying and assisting those most at risk, and bringing the voluntary and community sector into the heart of local resilience planning and response arrangements.  This will involve maximising access to a suitable volunteer pool during future events of a similar nature.

The government will track progress against the recommendations and provide a further update this June. 

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Following the widespread disruption and devastation caused by Storm Arwen, I committed to a full review of the preparations and response to ensure that we take all the learning from this exceptional storm. 

“We already have strong and robust arrangements in place to manage and address weather-related resilience issues at national, regional and local levels, but I want to ensure that our arrangements continue to evolve and strengthen for the future, which is what this review will help deliver.

“The experience of Storm Arwen underlined the vital role of volunteers and community groups in ensuring the welfare of those around them. That is why we intend to bring the voluntary and community sector into the heart of local resilience planning to ensure they are fully integrated into arrangements for the future.

“In addition, we will improve processes to help us identify those people who are most at risk, in order to direct and provide help as quickly as possible.

“We recognise the urgent need to prepare for increased severe weather as a consequence of the climate emergency, and to ensure arrangements in relation to our energy supply are as robust as possible as we transition towards net zero.”

Chair of the Scottish Resilience Partnership Jim Savege said: “Storm Arwen was a particularly severe weather event that required a significant response from emergency responders, utility companies and communities over an extended period of time.

“I would want to recognise and thank all of those involved in the response for their efforts in helping ensure communities across affected areas were supported and helped where needed.

“As with every incident there is always learning and improvement to be had – the report sets out a range of areas where we can continue to strengthen our resilience as a country in preparation for any future events.”

A review into the response to Storm Arwen

Support targeted at most vulnerable as Scotland recovers from Storm Arwen

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) on the continuing impacts of Storm Arwen and has been briefed that the recovery is going to be greater and more challenging than first anticipated.

Last night’s update focused on the scale and severity of the adverse weather which will see a number of homes across the country remain without power overnight and continuing telecommunication and water issues.    

Significant efforts are ongoing to restore power as soon as possible and welfare support is being concentrated on the people and households who are most vulnerable and have the greatest need.

Mr Swinney said: “The scale of the damage caused by Storm Arwen is worse than we first feared and as a result our recovery will take longer than anticipated.

“We know this will create significant challenges for communities and households still affected by the storm’s impacts and I want to reassure them we are doing everything we can, liaising with local resilience partnerships, to focus efforts and resources. 

“We have been working closely and at pace with power companies who are maximising efforts to restore services to households currently without power.

“Plans are being put in place for further assistance to respond to the longer than expected recovery and we are concentrating getting power restored for vulnerable people and those who need it most.

“In extremely challenging circumstances we have seen an outstanding response from local resilience partnerships who have been providing vital support to local residents and I would like to thank them for their continuing efforts.”

Storm Arwen sees calls to SFRS almost triple

Over the twenty-four-hour period from 7am on Friday, November 26, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received more than 900 emergency calls – almost three times the normal number – with more than 500 of these being due to the impact of the severe weather associated with Storm Arwen affecting many areas of the country.

During this same period of time, firefighters were mobilised to more than 500 incidents, many of which were related to high winds, with areas in the North and East of Scotland being worst affected.

Between 3pm and midnight on Friday, November 26 the Service’s Operations Control rooms in Dundee and Edinburgh received more than 500 weather related emergency calls, which included calls for assistance to make damaged buildings safe and road traffic collisions. 

The impact of the weather was also felt by the Service, with damage to the roof of Altens Community Fire Station in Aberdeen.

On duty firefighters and appliances were deployed to neighbouring stations to ensure fire cover for the area was maintained. In addition, a fire appliance from Galashiels in the Borders was struck by falling trees during the storm while attending an incident and the firefighters were removed to safety with no injuries recorded.

John Dickie is an Assistant Chief Officer in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “This has been an exceptional weather event and a challenging night where we received a high number of weather related calls.

“We have seen high numbers of emergency calls from the Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Fife, East Lothian and Scottish Borders areas where many buildings were damaged by the high winds – resulting in a significant localised response.

“Firefighters also attended a number of other incidents including road traffic collisions and fires.

“My thanks must go to our firefighters and Operations Control staff for their outstanding work overnight in very challenging conditions, and to our partners for their continued assistance.”

For safety advice on severe weather visit – https://www.readyscotland.org/are-you-ready/severe-weather/

For the latest forecast where you are:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice

Flooding outlook update

Sunday 13 September: 11:00am

75mm OF RAINFALL OVERNIGHT AT REST AND BE THANKFUL AS REGIONAL FLOOD ALERTS REMAIN IN FORCE FOR NORTH WEST SCOTLAND

75mm of rain fell in a 24 hour period at the Rest and Be Thankful,  Argyll as Scotland faced a weekend of wet weather. 

On Saturday and overnight, Scotland’s flood forecasting and warning service had 10 Regional Flood Alerts and 7 Local Flood Warnings in force.  In total, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said that between 70mm – 80mm fell across the day yesterday and overnight, with further rain and flooding impacts predicted across the North West of Sunday.

Mark Franklin, SEPA’s Duty Flood Manager, said: “Yet again we’ve seen Scotland battered by another weekend of wet weather, with flooding impacts across West, Central, North and Southern Scotland. 

“At the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll, the subject of a second landslip in a matter of weeks, we saw 75mm of rain in a 24 hour period and across the country we saw rainfall of between 70-80mm. 

“Our 24/7 flood forecasting and warning centre saw people responding well to our 10 Regional Flood Alerts and 7 Local Flood Warnings and we want to thank those who signed-up overnight for our free Floodline service.

“Whilst Sunday see’s an improving picture for Central and Southern Scotland, we’ll see continued heavy rainfall across the day for the North West.  This is likely to result in further localised flooding of land and roads, as well as some transport disruption before improving on Monday.  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.”

Rainfall Data:

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 Area of most significant rainfall for Sunday – 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 Area of further rainfall.
MediaAOC13Sep

Edinburgh College closed again tomorrow

All college campuses will be closed again tomorrow (Friday 2 March).

We hoped to be able to reopen but the continuing disruption caused by the weather means we have decided it is safest to stay closed. An amber weather warning remains in place, schools will be shut, and roads and public transport may still be disrupted. Our food outlets won’t receive any deliveries until Monday so we can’t provide full catering. We’re also not certain if our campuses can be kept fully cleared and gritted, with further snow possible.

We don’t close the college lightly but hopefully you understand why we’re doing it. It’s important you can get to college safely to study in the best possible conditions on campus, but at the moment that just isn’t possible.

We should be open again on Monday morning so, unless you hear otherwise, please come in as normal. We’ll send out another update on Sunday anyway to confirm.

As classes aren’t on at the moment, it’s important that you continue with self-directed study, to catch up on work or to get ahead of your revision. Moodle is available so please use the study resources available.

If you’re an apprentice, please remember to check in with your employer.

Keep an eye on the college’s social media and website for further info if needed. If the weather calms down over the next few days as we expect, we’ll see you back at college on Monday.

Stay warm and safe for now.

Annette Bruton
Edinburgh College Principal