PEOPLE living in areas hit by red weather warnings are being urged not to travel amid the "very serious situation".
The Met Office has extended the weather warning, which is in place from 6pm, from the initial warning area to cover the area north of Perth and Aberfeldy.
It now stretches from southern Aberdeenshire and Angus to the outskirts of Dundee and Perth. Other parts of Scotland are affected by yellow and amber warnings.
On Thursday evening, as hundreds of people were evacuated due to flood fears in Brechin, First Minister Humza Yousaf said the Government had completed a Resilience Meeting about the situation.
"We urge people to listen to the advice, particularly in the red warning area urging people not to travel, it is for your own safety," he wrote.
"We, alongside local partners, are focused on people's welfare. We continue to monitor the situation closely. There will be severe disruption in some parts of the country, so please listen to the advice and stay safe."
And speaking to BBC Scotland, Deputy FM Shona Robison said the situation is "very serious" as red warnings are not often issued.
“People should check in with Police Scotland or Transport Scotland to make sure they know whether their area is covered," she urged.
“People should absolutely not travel in those areas.”
She also warned that Storm Babet could hit more parts of Scotland in the coming days.
Robison said: “We are only at the start of this weather event – that’s really important for people to appreciate.
“There is the risk, danger, and possibility of more areas being affected so we will make sure that any changes are communicated as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile Angus Council is evacuating more than 400 homes in the red weather warning area “for their own safety”, with three rest centres set up.
Two further rest centres are being prepared in Aberdeenshire, for residents unable to remain in their homes.
Angus Council said: “Over the past few days, resilience colleagues have been working with Sepa to identify areas at most risk of flooding due to the unprecedented level of rain that is expected to fall across Angus.
“Sepa have advised of a possible severe flood warning.
“As a result, we have identified approximately 335 homes in Brechin, and an additional 87 homes in Tannadice and Finavon where residents will be asked to evacuate for their own safety.”
Those affected are advised to attend three rest centres that have been set up in the area.
These are at Brechin Community Campus, Montrose Sports Centre and Forfar Community Campus.
Residents are advised to bring their own sleeping bags, pillows and any required medication.
At the Brechin Community Campus, shortly after 3pm, it appeared largely empty and media were not permitted inside by staff.
Aberdeenshire Council rest centres at Stonehaven Community Centre and Mearns Campus at Laurencekirk were opening from about 4pm.
Elsewhere nearly 20,000 properties in Scotland had electricity cut off, according to a power company.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) restored power to 14,200 customers, and is working to reconnect around 4250 properties, using mobile generators.
The firm increased staffing levels 10-fold in order to deal with the impact, and described “extremely challenging conditions” to repair wind-related damage, especially in Aberdeenshire and Angus.
Andy Smith, operations director at SSEN distribution, said: “Storm Babet has tracked as expected so far, with wind gusts in excess of 70mph across the north-east and Angus.
“Our resource levels are very good, and we have 10 times our usual operational capacity, ready to respond to any issues as they occur.”
