The public across Scotland is being urged to exercise significant caution over the coming days, as a heightened risk of flooding follows a weekend of severe winter weather. Authorities have issued multiple alerts and warnings, with difficult driving conditions and transport disruption expected.
Flood Warnings and Weather Alerts in Force
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) currently has three active flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place. The specific warnings are for Newton Stewart and Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway, and for the Churchill Barriers in Orkney. The broader alerts cover extensive areas of the country.
Simultaneously, the Met Office has yellow weather warnings for both wind and rain across much of north-western Scotland. The wind warning is valid until 10am on Monday, 12 January 2026, with the rain warning ending at 8am the same day.
Risk from Rain and Melting Snow
David Morgan, Sepa’s flood duty manager, explained the compounding dangers. "Continuing heavy rain, combined with melting snow, increases the risk of flooding," he stated. He identified the greatest threat in Dumfries and Galloway, and the west and north of Scotland, warning of potential impacts on communities, transport, and properties.
Matthew Lehnert, chief meteorologist for the Met Office, detailed the shift in conditions. "We’ll see a transition in our weather across the UK through Sunday, with mild Atlantic air moving in from the west," he said. "While the wintry weather may have come to an end, the significant snow accumulations in parts of Scotland mixed with heavy rainfall and an increase in temperatures bring a risk of flooding in some areas as the snow melts."
Government Response and Travel Disruption
The Scottish Government's Resilience Room met for a seventh consecutive day on Sunday to coordinate the response. Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who chaired the meeting, urged continued public vigilance. "This could affect properties and transport routes, with difficult driving conditions expected in many parts of the country at the start of the working week," she cautioned.
Significant travel disruption is already being reported. Traffic Scotland confirmed several road issues, including:
- The A92 closed both ways at Portlethen.
- The A83 at Rest and Be Thankful diverted via the Old Military Road.
- Restrictions on the A78 in North Ayrshire and the A8 in Inverclyde.
A decision on reopening the A83 trunk road will be made by midday on Monday following a hillside inspection. Several ferry services have also been cancelled, affecting routes from Oban, Troon, Mallaig, and Ullapool, among others. ScotRail warned that while some services have resumed, others may face delays or cancellations.
While Aberdeenshire Council has stood down its major incident declaration following the severe snow, officials remain on high alert. Council chief executive Jim Savege noted, "There is a significant risk of flooding on our networks as the snow melts... the council will continue to work with a heightened state of emergency response."
Authorities are unanimous in advising the public to stay informed by checking the latest forecasts, flood warnings from Sepa, and travel advice from Police Scotland and relevant agencies.
