Ten people have been airlifted to safety after heavy rain caused landslides across several roads in Scotland.
Police Scotland said “a number of vehicles” were stuck between the landslides near the town of Inveraray in Argyll and Bute on Saturday.
While London and southern England basked in unseasonably warm weather, the Met Office issued amber and yellow rain warnings for large parts of Scotland and northern England from Saturday to Sunday morning.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of multiple landslides on the A83 and A815 on the morning of Saturday, 7 October, 2023.
“A number of vehicles were stuck between the landslides.
“Emergency services, including HM Coastguard, attended and ten people were airlifted to safety. There were no reports of injuries.
A83 - Motorists airlifted to safety.
— Jonathan Mustard (@CoastguardJM) October 7, 2023
Our Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Prestwick, was called upon by @PoliceScotland this morning, to assist in the evacuation of motorists following multiple landslides on the A83 near Inveraray due to significant rainfall.
Vid: Jamie Lang pic.twitter.com/FQ0QOcKNkG
“The roads remain closed and drivers are urged to avoid travel in the area.”
Vincent Fitzsimons, flood duty manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said flood warnings had been issued across Scotland.
He said: “I want to be very clear that this is not a normal autumn day for Scotland.
“We’re expecting extensive river and surface water flooding in affected areas. There is a danger to life. There will be widespread impacts to road and rail. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding.”
A yellow rain warning covering much of Scotland, active from midnight on Saturday to 6am on Sunday, could bring rainfall of 50-75mm in low-lying areas and close to 100mm on higher ground.
The Met Office warns this could lead to homes and businesses.
Within that is a separate amber warning covering Central Scotland, Tayside and Fife from 3am on Saturday to 6am the following day.
The Met Office said this area could see as much as 150-180mm of rainfall accumulating in the wettest spots with many areas suffering heavy rain already overnight.
Network Rail Scotland posted on X, formerly Twitter: “A month’s worth of rain is expected today, likely leading to widespread flooding across Scotland.
“With this in mind, we’re limiting train speeds on almost all routes to protect passengers, staff and the railway. Check your journey before travelling.”
Rail services being cancelled on Saturday include London North Eastern Railway (LNER) trains north of Newcastle as well as several routes across Scotland.
Avanti West Coast also advised customers between Scotland and Preston not to travel, and confirmed there would be no services running north of the latter.
Transpennine Express services between Manchester, Liverpool, Preston to Carlisle and Glasgow and Edinburgh are also affected.
A LNER spokesman said: “Customers are advised not to travel north of Newcastle.”
Scotland’s Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said: “It’s important people plan their journeys before they set off.
“Motorists should make sure their routes are available, follow the travel advice from Police Scotland and drive in accordance with the conditions.
“If you are planning to travel by train, ferry or plane, please check with your operators to see if the conditions are having any impact on your services.”
Sporting events across Scotland have also been hit by the heavy rain with the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship at St Andrews postponed until Sunday.
