UK weather: Floods strike up north, but in the south! Caravans left underwater in Scotland after whole month’s rain falls in just 24 hours – but beaches are packed in England in warmest October day since 2018
- Month’s rain fell in just a day at the weekend – with ‘danger to life’ warning issued
Britain’s sporadic weather has left a country divided – with caravans left underwater by torrential rain in Scotland while beaches are packed by English sunseekers.
A whole month’s rain fell in just 24 hours over the weekend – with a ‘danger to life’ warning across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland.
But below the border Britons enjoyed the UK’s warmest day since 2018 with temperatures reaching nearly 26C heat – coupled with clear skies and sunshine.
There will be some relief for Scotland today as the rain storms turn lighter, with some sunny spells trying to poke through as the day progresses.
While in England another sunny day could see temperatures pushing as high as 24C – as some areas of the country are between 5 and 8C higher than what would be expected of the time of year.
But tomorrow, Scotland faces yet another yellow weather warning for heavy rain in the west of the country.
A whole month’s rain fell in just 24 hours over the weekend – with a ‘danger to life’ warning across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland. Pictured: A paddle boarder is seen on a flooded football pitch in the North Inch in Perth
Caravans and tents were left under water at Aberfeldy Caravan Park yesterday after the River Tay burst its banks
Below the border Britons enjoyed the UK’s warmest day since 2018 with temperatures reaching nearly 26C heat – coupled with clear skies and sunshine. Pictured: Sunseekers flock to Weymouth in Dorset
Daria Soszka, 33, cools down by the sea at Bournemouth Beach yesterday
There will be some relief for Scotland today as the rain storms turn lighter, with some sunny spells trying to poke through as the day progresses
But tomorrow, Scotland faces yet another yellow weather warning for heavy rain in the west of the country
With a risk of spray and flooding that could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, those affected are also facing the chance of delays and cancellations on public transport networks and a chance of water entering their houses.
Today, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Scottish EPA) still has eight flood alerts, with two severe flood warnings in Aviemore/Dalfaber and Tayside.
Weather through the week
MONDAY
Patchy rain in Scotland and Northern Ireland before sunshine breaks through.
England faces another balmy day with temperatures as high as 24C.
TUESDAY
Another yellow warning for Scotland with heavy rain in the west of the country.
Elsewhere mostly dry with warm sunshine in England.
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
Rain moves south across England and Wales with sunshine and blustery showers elsewhere.
There are a further 52 flood warnings still live across the country.
While not as heavy as over the weekend, the Met Office has warned that it is falling on ‘very saturated ground’, bringing the risk of localised flooding.
These fronts will move southwards throughout the week, bringing heavy rain across Wales and central England on Wednesday.
This will move further south on Thursday, with temperatures gradually dropping throughout the week.
And on Friday there rain will push back north – bringing blustery showers across England and Wales.
Yesterday, the Met Office issued an amber warning for rain – meaning there is a ‘danger to life’ – across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland until 2pm.
In a statement, the Scottish EPA said extensive flooding was expected to affect properties and businesses ‘in and around Aviemore from the early hours of Sunday morning’, with rivers forecast to slowly peak throughout the day.
But while caravans were left underwater in the North, further south people were taking in the sun on the beach as temperatures hit 25C in some parts of England and Wales.
The Met Office revealed temperatures in southern Britain were the warmest in five years.
A separate amber warning, stretching from Aviemore to Glasgow, dissipated throughout the day but much of the rest of the country was still under yellow warnings.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Scottish EPA) had 14 flood alerts – alongside one severe flood warning for the Aviemore/Dalfaber area and 53 further flood warnings.
Caravans and tents under water at Aberfeldy Caravan Park in Perthshire after the River Tay burst its banks following 24 hours of torrential rain
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Scottish EPA) has 14 flood alerts – alongside one severe flood warning for the Aviemore/Dalfaber area and 53 further flood warnings. Pictured: Flooding on the train line at Balloch Station
Aerial views show the exceptionally high levels of water near Bonnybridge, near Falkirk, as the A883 is closed by flooding
Two people wade through the flood water holding an umbrella and wearing wellies in Dumbarton, Scotland
Michael Paterson, from Barmulloch, Glasgow resorted to using a kayak to access his road due to the flooding
Sunbathers take advantage of the autumn sunshine in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
Meteorologists say contrasting weather was caused by warm weather travelling up from France meeting cold weather coming from the north
People having picnics and lying on the grass during the unseasonably warm weather at London Fields on Sunday
Yesterday an amber warning, stretching from Aviemore to Glasgow , dissipated but much of the rest of the country was still under yellow warnings
Anyone in the affected area was urged to stay away from flood water, avoid unnecessary risks and comply with any evacuation orders.
It came after a spokesman for ScotRail said some parts of Scotland saw a month’s rain in the 24 hours to Saturday evening, affecting train services throughout the country.
The Met Office said Tyndrum, west Perthshire experienced the most rainfall, with 112.6mm falling on the small village.
Although the rain was expected to continue throughout the morning, it was said to clear away in the afternoon.
Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said the contrasting weather was caused by warm weather travelling up from France meeting cold weather coming from the north with the temperature contrast leading to the heavy rain in Scotland.
The warm weather in southern parts was expected to last until Tuesday.
Temperatures reached 25.8C in Kew Gardens, Surrey, well above the October average in London of 17C.
But the climate will gradually cool over the week, and by Thursday most of the country will be seeing average temperatures for October, but the very south could see 19-20C.
In a statement, the Scottish EPA said extensive flooding is expected to properties and businesses ‘in and around Aviemore from the early hours of Sunday morning’, with rivers forecast to slowly peak throughout the day
The approach to the 18th hole – which is unplayable – as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2023 has been abandoned for a second day due to adverse weather conditions at St Andrews
Rain was expected to continue throughout the morning, but was said to clear away in the afternoon
Pictured: Flooding in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire
Motorists were trapped in between landslides in Argyll and Bute yesterday after a month of rainfall fell in just one day
The A83 Rest and Be Thankful was hit by seven landslides during the extreme weather, and the Scottish Government held crisis talks in anticipation that the situation would get worse
Beachgoers were basking in the unseasonably hot weather in Bournemouth on Sunday as people donned shorts, T-shirts and swimwear
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: ‘Warmth to the south is likely to continue at least at the start of next week, before a likely gradual return to a more typically autumnal weather regime.’
How this autumn has already been a record breaker for Britain
SEPTEMBER
September 2023 was the joint hottest September on record with 2006 – with a mean daily temperature of 59.4F (15.2C), the Met Office said on Monday.
For the first time in September, temperatures exceeded 86F (30C) for seven consecutive days last month.
A high of 92.3F (33.5C) on September 10 was the UK’s hottest day of the year.
The UK’s hottest day of the year happening in September has only occurred on four previous occasions.
OCTOBER
October 1 was the UK’s warmest start to October in 12 years as Wisley in Surrey hit 75.4F (24.1C). It was also the warmest October day in five years.
Temperatures at the start of October are usually between 54F (12C) in the North and 61F (16C) in the South.
Forecasters are now expecting at least 72F (22C) for at least six days in a row from tomorrow until next Wednesday.
A reading of 79F (26C) in October was last seen in 2018, while the hottest ever October day was in 2011 when Gravesend in Kent hit 85.8F (29.9C).
The amber weather warning in place for parts of the country meant that there was the possibility of deep or fast flowing floodwater – causing a ‘danger to life’.
It also warned that the extensive flooding of homes and businesses is possible while ‘building collapse might happen’.
And communities could be ‘completely cut off by flood water’ for several days as roads could close and services suffer delays or cancellations.
The lesser yellow rain warning – that is in place throughout much of northern Scotland – describes ‘heavy and persistent rain’ that may cause some disruption.
The downpour was so bad on Saturday night that a search helicopter had to airlift 10 people to safety after landslides buried local roads.
The A83 Rest and Be Thankful was hit by seven landslides during the extreme weather, and the Scottish Government held crisis talks in anticipation that the situation would get worse.
Preparations were made to open community centres in Argyll and Bute to help vulnerable people, while Police Scotland warned against travelling to the region.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: ‘Officers have been dealing with significant disruption on the roads caused by the heavy rainfall and we would expect this to continue into Sunday.
‘Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary or if it can be delayed until conditions improve.’
According to the Met Office, a typical month’s rainfall in Edinburgh in October is 76mm, while Aberdeen sees 99mm. Scotland had 100mm (4in) of rain in parts.
Vincent Fitzsimons, flood duty manager for the Scottish EPA, 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.
Flood warnings were issued for a number of areas across Scotland amid rain which started on Saturday and is expected to continue today
Motorists struggle driving through the deep flood water in Dumbarton, Scotland on Saturday
A man carries his dog through a flooded street in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, as Scotland suffers extreme rainfall
Parts of the country were told to be prepared for power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses, for some communities cut off by flooded roads and for spray and flooding leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
‘There will be widespread impacts to road and rail. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding.’
Justice Secretary and Minister for Resilience Angela Constance chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee (SGoRR), which was attended by First Minister Humza Yousaf.
Ms Constance said: ‘As the weather warnings outline, heavy rainfall is expected to continue in many parts of the country into Sunday and some areas will have a month’s worth of rain over the course of the weekend.
‘I would urge everyone across the country to heed the travel warnings being issued by Police Scotland and others – in particular, drivers in Argyll and Bute should avoid travel due to the significant disruption across the road network.
‘We are aware that the initial, most severe impacts have been felt by people and businesses in Argyll and Bute, as well as other areas in the west and north of the country.
‘Ministers are receiving regular updates on the situation from partners, including Sepa, the Met Office, and Police Scotland as it unfolds.
‘This afternoon I convened SGoRR in recognition of the severity of the situation which will continue to develop over the next 24 hours.’
Mudslides were reported on both the A83 and the A815, near Inveraray. HM Coastguard confirmed that it sent a search and rescue helicopter to attend and airlift 10 people to safety.
Warnings told locals to expect homes and businesses to be flooded and damage to some buildings, danger to life from fast flowing or deep floodwater and delays or cancellations to train and bus services
A member of the public put sandbags by their door to keep the flood water out of their property in Dumbarton, Scotland
Shop owners and homeowners used cushions to try and stop water entering their properties
Motorists struggled driving through the deep flood water in Dumbarton, Scotland on Saturday
A spokesperson told the Daily Record: ‘The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick airlifted 10 people cut off by a landslide at the junction of the A815 and A83 near Inveraray on 7 October.
‘The alarm was raised at about 9.15am. The people were flown safe and well to Inveraray and met by the Inveraray Coastguard Rescue Team and provided with shelter.’
A Police Scotland spokesperson also told the outlet: ‘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.’
The police confirmed that emergency services attended to those who were stuck and that nobody was injured.
ScotRail cancelled trains on a number of lines and the LNER line was no longer going north of Newcastle.
ScotRail said there would not be replacement buses for the routes, including those between Perth and Inverness.
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