Amber climate warning issued – as map reveals the place downpours will hit

The Met Office has issued an amber climate warning forward of heavy downpours forecast in components of the UK this weekend.

Heavy rain is more likely to trigger a ‘hazard to life’ on Sunday in Scotland, based on the climate warning issued.

The moist climate can also be more likely to spark journey chaos whereas houses and companies may develop into flooded, inflicting harm to some buildings.

It comes as components of the UK are nonetheless on flood watch, with 22 warnings and 90 alerts in place right this moment. Some 30 flood warnings have, nevertheless, been eliminated within the final 24 hours.

The Met Office has put an amber warning in place throughout the north-west Highlands and Argyll on Sunday, whereas much less extreme yellow warnings have been issued from Saturday night till Monday morning.

The rain is predicted to worsen all through the Saturday night time and Scots travelling within the affected space have been requested to plan forward earlier than heading off.

The company predicts 100-150mm of rainfall within the space this weekend, doubtlessly rising to 200mm in some west-facing upslopes.

The alert warns of the potential for energy cuts and tough driving circumstances, and say ‘quick flowing or deep floodwater is probably going, inflicting hazard to life’.

Scottish transport minister Fiona Hyslop has warned of potential disruption on the roads and to public transport attributable to the climate.

She stated: ‘The Met Office is warning us to count on one other interval of heavy rain this weekend, which can seemingly convey disruption to the transport community in components of north-west Scotland.

‘Our trunk highway groups might be out on the community to sort out any points, but it surely’s vital motorists additionally play their half and plan their journeys earlier than setting off.

‘Make positive your route is on the market, observe the journey recommendation from Police Scotland, and drive in accordance with the circumstances.

‘The Traffic Scotland Twitter/X web page is commonly up to date with the newest info on the trunk highway community and the cell web site my.trafficscotland.org provides you entry to the newest info on the transfer.

‘If you’re planning to journey by practice, ferry or airplane, please test together with your operators because the forecast circumstances even have potential to affect your providers.’

Ferry operator CalMac introduced on X there are cancellations over the weekend, with potential disruption to different providers.

One cancelled service is its Tarbert – Lochmaddy ferry.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, the pinnacle of highway policing in Scotland, warned drivers of the affect heavy rain can have on stopping distances, urging individuals to ‘contemplate in case your journey is admittedly crucial in the course of the unhealthy climate or if it may be delayed till circumstances enhance’.

David Scott, the flood responsibility supervisor on the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), stated the rainfall ‘is more likely to convey vital floor water flooding impacts’, and he urged individuals to not drive into flood water.

‘Remember that not solely is flood water more likely to be soiled, 30cm of quick flowing water can transfer a mean household sized automotive, and simply 15cm of quick flowing water could possibly be sufficient to knock you off your toes,’ he stated.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has one flood warning and 5 alerts in place. 

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge stated: ‘Strong southwesterly winds will feed in a protracted and heavy spell of rain.

‘In some areas as much as 200mm of rainfall could possibly be recorded, however 100-150mm is extra seemingly throughout the broader warning space.

‘In addition to the standard dangers related to excessive rainfall, there’s the potential for landslides throughout the south of the Highland area and Argyll.’

It comes as Brits put together for some difficult climate in the course of the festive interval, regardless of forecasters predicting that the temperature may heat up within the days forward.

By the tip of subsequent week, nevertheless, temperatures may drop once more with an icy plunge predicted on December 20 and 21.

Despite a chilly snap, hopes of a White Christmas are diminishing after the Met Office stated there was ‘little signal of any widespread or extreme chilly and wintry climate’ round December 25.

But meteorologists additionally stated there could possibly be ‘small quantities of hill snow within the North’ subsequent week – and ‘snow and ice’ was nonetheless potential between Christmas and New Year.

There can also be an elevated likelihood of colder spells into January, with the opportunity of a ‘extra extended spell of chilly climate growing round mid-month’.

The Met Office’s long-range forecast for subsequent Tuesday till December 28 states: ‘Initially gentle, moist and windy in southern areas earlier than clearing away leaving circumstances unsettled with showers of rain throughout western coasts and a few hill snow affecting north-western areas, clearer to the east. 

‘Late within the week potential for a gentle spell within the south as rain strikes in with some small quantities of hill snow within the north earlier than a interval of extra north or north-westerly winds with showers throughout coasts and turning wintry over hills.

‘But clearer within the south, this seemingly recurring by way of the interval with milder and wetter westerly intervals interspersed with a threat of with colder north-westerly or northerly circumstances and showers, some wintry over hills, for a time. However, at this stage there’s little signal of any widespread or extreme chilly and wintry climate.’

Looking additional forward to the interval of December 29 till January 12, the Met Office states: ‘Most seemingly persevering with unsettled with bands of rain crossing the UK with brighter circumstances and showers in between.

‘The wettest and windiest circumstances are most probably within the north and northwest. Short-lived colder spells stay potential, with hazards corresponding to snow and ice, significantly within the north.

‘The likelihood of those colder spells will increase shifting into January, with a low probability of a extra extended spell of chilly climate growing round mid-month.’