Scotland is no stranger to severe weather, but Storm Babet is expected to bring slightly more disruption than normal with a red warning issued by forecasters.
First minister Humza Yousaf has warned against unnecessary travel as country braces for heavy wind and rain
The Met Office has issued a red warning covering Angus with exceptional rainfall predicted to hit the region.
Meanwhile a less serious amber alert for wind and rain will be in force elsewhere in Tayside and Fife from 6am on Thursday.
What is a red weather warning and what to expect in Scotland
Experts at the Met Office grade the potential disruption that could be caused by severe weather using three colours – yellow, amber and red.
Yellow warnings are the most common, followed by amber warnings which are more severe and indicate a potential “danger to life” posed by the weather.
Meanwhile, red warnings, the most severe, are relatively rare and are only used when particularly dangerous weather events are due.
Previous red warnings were issued during Storm Arwen in November 2021.
What to expect in Scotland
- Flying debris resulting in danger to life
- Damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down
- Roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights
- Power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- Large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes
What has the Met Office said about the red warning?
Issuing the warning, Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “Confidence has increased in the chances of considerable impacts from rainfall in parts of the east of Scotland from Storm Babet, which has resulted in the escalation to the Red warning.
“100-150mm of rain is expected to fall quite widely within the warning period, with some locations likely to see 200-250mm, which is expected to cause considerable impacts with flooding likely.”
Impacts highlighted as part of the red warning is a danger to life from flood water, extensive flooding to homes and businesses and severely disrupted travel conditions.
