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Flooding concern after heavy rain Wettest day sparks flood troubles
(about 1 hour later)
Heavy rain and flooding are causing major problems in south west Scotland. The wettest November day on record has caused flooding problems across the south west of Scotland.
Almost 30 roads have been closed across Dumfries and Galloway with flood watches and warnings on many rivers. The Met Office said rainfall at its Eskdalemuir observatory in the 24-hour period to 0900 GMT had exceeded the previous highest total, set in 1931.
Flooding of the River Nith at the Whitesands in Dumfries has worsened considerably overnight with high tide expected at about 1430 GMT. Dozens of businesses on the Whitesands in Dumfries were affected with a high tide expected again at 1430 GMT.
Firefighters used a boat to rescue five people in the area in the early hours. Two people were also trapped in a stranded car in the Dunscore area. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the situation was "generally improving".
They were rescued by a second boat. The Eskdalemuir figures showed there had been 76.4mm (more than 3in) of rain in 24 hours from Thursday into Friday.
The Whitesands area has flooded with further problems expected at high tide
It saw about 30 roads closed across Dumfries and Galloway, with flood watches and warnings in place on many rivers.
The region's fire and rescue service was also called out to several incidents overnight, particularly in Dumfries, Dalbeattie and Moffat.
A number of schools across the south of Scotland were closed and Dumfries and Galloway College was shut due to the heavy rainfall.
Many other parts had also been affected by flooding, including the Cairn Valley north of Dumfries.
Local resident Lesley Gibb told the BBC: "We are currently cut off - all roads in and out are blocked by chest-high water and floating cars.
"My husband had to get a tractor ride across the fields to get home this morning after being stranded at work all night."
Severe flood warnings had been put in place on a number of rivers in the Scottish Borders.
However, water levels appeared to be receding by Friday morning.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES CLOSED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN Hightae PrimaryEttrick PrimaryYarrow PrimaryHobkirk PrimaryKirkhope PrimaryDumfries and Galloway College In Pictures: Flooding in DumfriesSCHOOLS AND COLLEGES CLOSED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN Hightae PrimaryEttrick PrimaryYarrow PrimaryHobkirk PrimaryKirkhope PrimaryDumfries and Galloway College In Pictures: Flooding in Dumfries
Many homes have been threatened by flood water around the region. The West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow was closed for a few hours because of a landslip between Carlisle and Penrith.
The Moffat area is one of the worst affected, as well as industrial premises at Biggar's Mill, Dalbeattie. There was also flooding on the line at Lockerbie. It has since re-opened.
Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service said they had 30 call-outs overnight. Richard Brown, head of hydrology at Sepa, said: "The situation at present is generally an improving picture.
The heavy downpours have also forced the closure of Dumfries and Galloway College due to rainwater entering the building's boiler room. "We've had an extremely busy night, recording some extreme peaks in many of the rivers across the south and south west of Scotland."
At least five schools have been shut due to flooding across southern Scotland and Scottish Borders Council warned pupils not to travel if there was flooding in their area. In Central Scotland, train operator ScotRail said services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh would be reduced to half-hourly.
Warnings were issued for the towns of Kelso and Coldstream as the level of the River Tweed continued to rise.
In Coldstream, a Royal Navy helicopter from Prestwick airlifted a woman to safety at about 0145 GMT, after her car became submerged in water.
The West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow was closed for a few hours because of a landslip between Carlisle and Penrith. There was also flooding on the line at Lockerbie. It has since re-opened.
The River Nith flooded onto the Whitesands
Richard Brown, head of hydrology at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), said: "The situation at present is generally an improving picture.
"We've had an extremely busy night, recording some extreme peaks in many of the rivers across the south and south west of Scotland.
"A lot of the headwaters have now fallen back but the flood peaks are migrating down the main rivers into the lower reaches of rivers such as the Tweed and the Clyde and indeed we still have a total of nine severe flood warnings out across Scotland.
"There's a considerable lag effect ... we have recorded over 100mm of rainfall in various parts of the south west of Scotland and that rain working its way into the rivers is now coming downstream."
The 24-hour period ending at 0900 GMT on Friday produced 76.4mm (more than 3in) at Eskdalemuir making it the wettest November day recorded in 100 years, beating 70.3mm in 1931.
In Central Scotland, train operator ScotRail said services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh would be reduced to "half hourly".
It also said there were no services between Glasgow and Dunblane, and others services were disrupted.It also said there were no services between Glasgow and Dunblane, and others services were disrupted.
Edinburgh to Dunblane and Edinburgh to Bathgate services would be every hour, it said.Edinburgh to Dunblane and Edinburgh to Bathgate services would be every hour, it said.
ScotRail said train services from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Aberdeen were terminating at Dundee. Alternative transport was bringing passengers north, stopping at all stations on the way.ScotRail said train services from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Aberdeen were terminating at Dundee. Alternative transport was bringing passengers north, stopping at all stations on the way.
Southbound services were running as normal, but could be subject to delays.Southbound services were running as normal, but could be subject to delays.
A special programme on the floods situation is being broadcast by the BBC in Dumfries and Galloway at 1700 GMT.
The broadcast, covering the south west of Scotland, is available on 94.7FM and 585MW.
Are you in one of the areas on flood alert? What are conditions like where you are? Send us your comments and pictures.Are you in one of the areas on flood alert? What are conditions like where you are? Send us your comments and pictures.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here.
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