Scotland has faced significant disruption as heavy rain and strong winds brought widespread flooding, power outages, and travel chaos. Weather warnings remain in effect, with authorities urging caution and preparedness.
Rail Services Halted Across Highlands
Train services across Scotland have been severely impacted, with flooding and landslips blocking multiple routes:
- Inverness to Perth Line: Closed entirely, halting train operations.
- Brora: A landslip has fully obstructed the rail line.
- Highland Main Line: Extreme rainfall caused closures near Kingussie.
- Wick/Thurso Line: Closed due to flooding, with replacement buses unavailable due to hazardous road conditions.
ScotRail reported 15 flood-related incidents on the Far North Line and announced speed restrictions on many routes due to unsafe conditions.
Power Cuts Leave Hundreds Without Electricity
Heavy rains and strong winds knocked out power for hundreds across Scotland. Affected areas include:
- Ardgay and Lairg: At least 180 customers impacted.
- Golspie: Nine customers without power.
- North Coast: Over 240 homes affected.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks have deployed additional teams to restore power but warned of further disruptions as adverse weather continues.
Flood Alerts and Road Closures
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued over 40 flood warnings, urging residents to avoid rivers due to life-threatening conditions. Key road disruptions include:
- A832 (Black Isle): Landslip closed the route between Fortrose and Avoch.
- A9 at Tomich: Flooding caused a temporary closure, now reopened with temporary traffic lights.
- A82 (Lochend): Landslip debris disrupted traffic.
SEPA’s flood duty manager, Pascal Lardet, highlighted ongoing concerns for rivers such as the Spey, Tay, Ness, Forth, and Teith, where water levels are still rising.
Cancelled Hogmanay Celebrations
Severe weather led to the cancellation of several iconic Hogmanay events, including:
- Edinburgh’s Outdoor Festivities: The Princes Street Gardens concert featuring Texas and the fireworks display were called off. Organisers cited high winds and public safety concerns.
- Stirling Events: Authorities discouraged travel to the city, confirming limited access to ticketed events.
Indoor gatherings, such as a candlelit concert at St Giles’ Cathedral, proceeded as planned.
Travel Disruptions Continue
Ferry operator CalMac reported disruptions on 25 of its 30 routes, while police and road agencies warned against unnecessary travel.
Scottish government officials, including Resilience Minister Angela Constance, emphasized the importance of safety, urging residents to stay away from floodwaters and plan travel carefully.
Context for Residents and Travelers
The Met Office issued a series of warnings:
- Amber Alert: Central Highlands until 17:00 Tuesday.
- Yellow Alerts: Snow and rain for the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeen, and Aberdeenshire through Wednesday morning.
- Orkney and Shetland: Yellow warning for snow until midnight.
Weather forecasters predict ongoing challenges as heavy rain moves eastward.
