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Flooding Outlook: Sunday 1st January 2023

• Scots can add one more New Year’s resolution by signing-up for SEPA’s free Floodline message service online or by calling 0345 988 1188
• View SEPA’s three-day flood forecast

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reminding Scots and visitors to Scotland to steer clear of receding flood water this New Year as the country continues to clear up from Friday’s flooding event.

Across Friday (30th December), Scotland’s environment protection agency had 10 Regional flood alerts, 29 local flood warnings and a severe flood warning in place for Dumfries. Impacts across the country were significant, with levels at the River Nith being the highest ever recorded, and higher than Storm Frank in 2015 and flooding in December 1982.

Marc Becker, Flood Duty Manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:

“Across New Years Day, Scots and visitors to Scotland will rightly be out enjoying all that Scotland has to offer. Today we’ll see only occasional rain showers and hill snow in parts of Scotland. Flood water continues to recede in affected Southern and Central Scotland regions. Whilst we want everyone to enjoy the very best of Scotland’s New Year, we urge people living, working and travelling today to take care, steer clear of receding flood water and follow the latest information from SEPA, transport authorities and Police Scotland.”

Staying informed

• Check the latest information on SEPA's regional flood alerts and local flood warnings.
• Check the latest advice on what to do to prepare for flooding
• Register for SEPA’s free Floodline message service online by calling 0345 988 1188
• Check the three day Scottish Flood Forecast

Be prepared and 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.
• 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.