A yellow weather warning for Edinburgh has been extended with heavy rain set to begin at midnight tonight (December 29).
On Wednesday, we reported how the Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for Edinburgh and the Lothians, predicting that the rainfall would cause flooding and travel disruption as a result.
Now, forecasters have extended this warning to last longer than expected, and cover more of the country.
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In terms of the reason for the update, the Met Office said: "The start and end time have been brought forward slightly and the area affected has been expanded to include Dundee and Angus and more of the Scottish Borders.
"In addition the likelihood of medium impacts has been increased."
Forecasters have told drivers and pedestrians to expect the following:
- Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- Delays or cancellations to train and bus services are possible
- Homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
- Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has also issued a flood alert for the Central Belt, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
According to their website, SEPA said: "On Friday, a prolonged spell of rain, which will be heavy at times, is expected to cause a rise in river levels and a risk of flooding from rivers, small watercourses and surface water.
"The rain is likely to fall over a period of 9 to 12 hours from midnight on Thursday with flooding impacts possible from early on Friday morning and through the day."
The most likely places to be impacted include:
- Flooding of land and roads, particularly on low lying land next to rivers
- Wet road surfaces and ponding of surface water, especially in known trouble spots
- Disruption to travel and infrastructure leading to longer journey times
- Flooding affecting parts of communities
- Danger to life and damage to buildings
SEPA duty officers continue to monitor the situation and will issue updates as further information becomes available.
According to the Met Office, this is the predicted forecast from today and Friday, December 30:
Thursday's forecast
A few bright or sunny intervals, best of the sunshine across the east. Otherwise cloudy with showers or occasionally longer spells of rain. Turning drier and clearer from the west later. Brisk west to northwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.
Thursday night's forecast
Mainly dry with clear periods this evening, some patchy frost. Widespread rain and hill snow, heavy at times, spreading northeast overnight. Becoming windy, gales in the southwest. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
Friday's forecast
Windy in the morning with rain, heavy in the southwest but patchy in the east. Drier, brighter weather with easing winds spreading extending east by early afternoon. Maximum temperature 8 °C.
The Met Office website has a more in-depth forecast prediction for the entirety of the country, and will update if the warning is either upgraded or extended further.
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