The body of a 57-year-old woman has been recovered from a river in Angus, where a red weather alert is currently in force, Police Scotland said on Thursday night.
The rare red weather warning has come into force and residents of hundreds of homes have been urged to evacuate as Storm Babet batters the country.
It came as thousands more were left without power and facing flooding from “unprecedented” amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday.
Shona Robison, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, has warned the worst impacts of the storm are yet to come.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.45pm on Thursday October 19, officers attended a report of a person having been swept into the Water of Lee, Glen Esk.
“Around 4pm, the body of a 57-year-old woman was recovered from the river.
“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Douglas Ross, MP for Moray and MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said his “thoughts and deepest sympathies” went out to the “family and friends of the lady who has sadly lost her life”.
The Met Office warned some communities could be cut off for several days by severe flooding, while the British Geological Survey has warned the storm could also cause landslides in Scotland.
Angus Council, responsible for a large area in the east of Scotland north of Dundee, said residents in 335 homes in Brechin and a further 87 homes in Tannadice and Finavon will be asked to evacuate due to risk of severe flooding.
Three rest centres have been set up in the area, with people urged to take their own sleeping bags, pillows and blankets.
Fire crews and the coastguard have begun evacuating residents from the town of Brechin – knocking on residents’ doors advising them to leave the area.
The red warning for rainfall in areas of eastern Scotland means there is a danger to life from the severe weather.
Four flood warnings have also been issued for parts of northern England and the Midlands - in Sandsend, North Yorkshire; Bridlington, East Yorkshire; the Tyne estuary and in areas surrounding the River Maun in Nottinghamshire - with Storm Babet set to sweep southwards on Friday.
The Environment Agency also placed 79 flood alerts, warnings that flooding is possible, in effect across the rest of England.
A statement from 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.
“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.”
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister warned Storm Babet could hit more parts of Scotland in the coming days.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Shona 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.
“The services are doing their best to act as quickly as they can.
“Everybody is working very, very hard to make sure particularly those vulnerable people are supported to leave their homes.
“Those that are vulnerable will be put up in hotel accommodation.”
Angus Council said schools will be shut on Friday to “ensure the safety of children, young people, parents, and school staff”.
