Scots face floods & power cuts as thunder & lightning warning issued this week
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SCOTS are being warned to brace for floods and power cuts this week as forecasters issue a yellow warning for thunder and lightning.
Thunderstorms, lightning and heavy downpours are forecast over a large area across the south of Scotland over the weekend.
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Scots have been warned to brace for heavy downpours this weekend
Credit: Alamy Live News
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Some areas could see up to 80mm of rainfall
Credit: PA
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It has prompted SEPA is issue a flood alert across 19 areas
Credit: PA
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The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms this week
Credit: MET OFFICE
It could also bring hail and huge winds as the summer storm begins heading up to Scotland as early as tomorrow.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning, which is set to come into effect at midnight on Friday.
It is the first thunderstorm warning of the summer for Scots, and some areas have been urged to prepare for up to 80mm of rain.
This could result in flooding, with the risk of some homes and businesses being inundated rapidly.
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The summer storm could bring lightning and huge gusts of wind in some places - and could affect services such as power supplies.
The warning area includes Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders and South Lanarkshire.
It also stretches over to the east, covering some areas in Edinburgh and along the south-east coast and the Borders.
It comes as heavy rain sweeping across England tomorrow morning will begin moving north in the evening.
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The yellow warning is set to be in place until around 6pm on Saturday evening.
The Met Office notice states: "Areas of heavy rain and some thunderstorms will move northwards across areas of England and Wales early on Saturday, reaching parts of southern Scotland later in the morning.
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"After this first batch of rain moves north, further heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out in its wake.
"Rainfall will vary across the warning area and some places will avoid the heaviest rain.
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"However, 10-20 mm of rain is likely to fall in some places in an hour or less, with potential for 30-50 mm to accumulate in a few hours.
"Event rainfall could reach 60-80 mm in some locations.
"Strong gusts and hail may also accompany some of the thunderstorms."
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It adds, "Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
"There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads.
"There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost".
In separate warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, communities in 19 areas have been told to prepare for flooding.
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The warning, covering the whole day on Saturday, says it is possible that some communities could be flooded, adding that there is the possibility of danger to life and damage to buildings.
What should I do?
THE Met Office has shared the following advice to help Scots stay safe this weekend:
Consider if your location is at risk of flash flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
Prepare to protect your property and people from injury. Before gusty winds arrive, check to ensure moveable objects or temporary structures are well secured. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, gazebos, sheds, and fences.
Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.
People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
If you find yourself outside and hear thunder, protect yourself by finding a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car). Do not shelter under or near trees, or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on an elevated area move to lower ground.
Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.
It also warns that Scots could face disruption to travel and infrastructure over the weekend as a result.
Areas included in the alert are:
Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City (Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Ellon, Aberdeen, Inverurie, Kemnay, Ballater, Stonehaven and Marykirk)
Argyll and Bute (Lochgilphead, Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Dunoon and Rothesay)
Ayrshire and Arran (Prestwick, Troon, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Ardrossan, Largs, Girvan, Millport, Perceton, Stewarton, Shewalton and Arran)
Caithness and Sutherland (Scourie, Durness, Thurso, Wick, Helmsdale, Golspie and Lairg)
Central (Aberfoyle, Callander, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Stirling, Hillfoots, Alloa and Falkirk)
Dumfries and Galloway (Dumfries, Dalbeattie, Newton Stewart, Stranraer, Moffat, Langholm, Annan and Kirkconnel)
Dundee and Angus (Dundee, Broughty Ferry, Arbroath, Montrose, Forfar, Brechin, Coupar Angus and Alyth)
Easter Ross and Great Glen (Alness, Dingwall, Black Isle, Beauly, Inverness, Cannich, Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus)
Edinburgh and Lothians (Culross, Rosyth, Dunfermline, Cupar, Falkland, Glenrothes, Crail, Anstruther, St Andrews and Newport-on-Tay)
Eilean Siar (Lewis, Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay and Barra)
Nairn, Findhorn and Speyside (Nairn, Forres, Lossiemouth, Cullen, Rothes, Grantown, Aviemore and Tomatin)
Orkney (Stromness, Kirkwall, St Margaret's Hope, North and South Isles)
Scottish Borders (Peebles, Innerleithen, Galashiels, Selkirk, Lauder, Melrose, Hawick, Kelso, Newcastleton, Jedburgh and EyemouthScottish Borders)
Shetland (Unst, Yell, Northmavine, North, West and South Mainland, Lerwick, Scalloway and Stromness)
Skye and Lochaber (Portree, Broadford, Mallaig, Fort William, Caol and Ardnamurachan)
Tayside (Aberfeldy, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Comrie, Crieff, Perth, Bridge of Earn and Blackford)
West Central Scotland (Glasgow, Hamilton, Motherwell, Uddingston, East Kilbride, Lanark, Paisley, Dumbarton, Milngavie, Cumbernauld, Balloch and Renfrew)
Wester Ross (Ullapool, Gairloch, Kinlochewe, Lochcarron and Kyle of Lochalsh)
Sharing their latest advice, SEPA said online: "Be prepared for flooding.
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"Know your flood risk, stay up to date with the latest situation and get advice on what to do when flooding is expected."
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