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Flooding Outlook - Tuesday 27 October

David Cooper, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said:

“Many coastal communities will continue to see impacts of flooding with today’s Scottish Flood Forecast continuing to highlight an Amber risk of coastal flooding for the Northern Isles coastline. Storm surges combined with spring tides and large waves are expected to result in spray and wave overtopping, particularly around high tide. These conditions may result in extensive flooding of low-lying roads, property flooding and significant travel disruption.

“Moderate coastal flooding impacts are likely to continue in the Firth of Clyde, West Coast and Western Isles through Tuesday, and extending to the Moray Firth and into Aberdeenshire through Wednesday. Impacts are likely to include flooding of low-lying land and exposed roads, isolated properties and travel disruption, particularly from wave overtopping and spray.

“Isolated inland areas may also continue to experience surface water impacts, including localised flooding and disruption to travel, as rain falls onto already saturated ground.

“We continue to urge people to remain vigilant, particularly around coastal areas and stay away from flooded promenades, sea walls and crashing waves.”

Notes to editors

People are encouraged to sign up to the Floodline service to receive free updates for where they live, or where they’re travelling through, directly to their phone.

People can also check flood updates for all the latest updates and have a look at the three day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what’s expected further ahead.

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.
• Be extra careful if near the coast. Stay away from flooded promenades and crashing waves.
• Consider deploying flooding protection products if required.

Stay informed

• Follow @SEPAFlood on X for the latest flooding information.   
• Check the Regional Flood Alerts and Local Flood Warnings for your area.
• Check your transport routes and check road conditions.
• Check Ready Scotland for advice on preparing for severe weather. 

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.

Monday 26th October

Further stormy weather is expected to affect Scotland on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with flooding impacts continuing for coastal communities. Today’s Scottish Flood Forecast highlights an Amber risk of flooding for the Western Isles, Caithness and Sutherland and the Northern Isles for Tuesday as a combination of high tides and large waves are expected to bring significant disruption.

Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said:

"Following the impacts of Storm Boelo over the week end, there will be only a very short respite from the stormy weather for coastal areas as a further low-pressure weather system comes from the west, bringing further disruption to large areas of Scotland.

"From Monday evening high tide, there is a risk of coastal flooding in the southwest and Argyll including the Solway Firth and Firth of Clyde. High tides, large waves and strong winds will mean that flooding of low-lying land and exposed roads, isolated properties and travel disruption, particularly from wave overtopping and spray, is likely.  

"Through Tuesday periods of high tides, there is a significant risk of coastal flooding for the Western Isles, Caithness and Sutherland and Northern Isles. In these areas, communities can expect large waves and overtopping to result in extensive flooding of low lying roads, property flooding and significant travel disruption.

"Coastal areas in Moray and Aberdeenshire will also be affected overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday, where low-lying land and exposed roads, isolated properties and travel disruption is possible.

"Inland areas of the country may also continue to experience minor surface water impacts throughout Monday and Tuesday, including localised flooding and disruption to travel, as persistent rain falls onto already saturated ground.

"Stay up to date with the latest information by checking our flooding page on the SEPA website and our social media channels.”

Flooding Outlook - Saturday 24 October

Storm Boelo is set to bring wet and windy weather continuing to bring a risk of surface water, river and coastal flooding across many parts of Scotland across the weekend. Unsettled weather will also continue into the beginning of next week. We will continue to work closely with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and will issue and update regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as required.

Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said:

“Wet and windy weather will continue this weekend as Storm Boelo moves its way across Scotland.

“Through Saturday a band of persistent rain will affect most of Scotland and by the evening, the weather will turn much windier bringing widespread high winds and severe gales. Surface water and river flooding will remain a possibility through Saturday and Sunday particularly affecting the north of Scotland and the Upper Tayside, Upper Dee and the Spey catchments. However, there is particular concern around coastal flooding impacts for western areas. Large waves and rising tidal levels will increase the likelihood of flooding to low-lying coastal roads and local travel disruption, in particular around the Firth of Clyde.

“We would urge people to be extra careful if near the coast and stay away from flooded promenades and crashing waves.

“A Met office amber weather warning for wind is now in place running between 9pm on Saturday through until 9pm on Sunday night, resulting in high waves and a risk of coastal flooding.

“The flood risk will continue to remain elevated across this weekend and into next week, so we are urging people to remain vigilant, particularly around coastal areas and stay up to date with the latest information by checking our flooding page and staying up to date on SEPA's website and social media channels.”

Friday 23 October

A period of extended wet and windy weather will bring disruption to large parts of Scotland across the weekend. We continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and will issue regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as necessary.

Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said:

“It’s going to be a particularly wet and windy period over Friday and the weekend across Scotland as two named storms, Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, sweep their way across the UK and bring disruption.

“Sustained heavy and prolonged rain throughout Friday will lead to high river levels and possible flooding impacts quite widely across southern, central and eastern areas. This could also cause surface water flooding on roads and around properties, difficult driving conditions and disruption to travel.

“The stormy weather will continue through Saturday as a band of heavy rain moves east and affect large parts of western and central Scotland with possible localised flooding, including the flooding of land, roads and individual properties. Coastal flooding impacts are also possible for western areas as large waves and rising tidal levels increase the likelihood of flooding to low-lying coastal roads and local travel disruption, in particular around the Firth of Clyde.

“The weather will then turn much windier through Saturday evening as Storm Boelo moves in and brings widespread high winds and severe gales in the north of Scotland. A Met office amber weather warning for wind is now in place running between 9pm on Saturday through until 9pm on Sunday night, resulting in high waves and a risk of coastal flooding. Surface water and river flooding will remain a possibility during this time as rain continues to fall.

“The flood risk will remain elevated across this weekend and into next week, so we are urging people to remain vigilant and stay up to date with the latest information by checking our flooding page and staying up to date on SEPA's website and social media channels.”