Sudden thaw causes flooding as heavy rain and gales blow in
Rising temperatures after 11 days of heavy snow and sub-zero figures have left parts of Scotland submerged with drifts melting into rivers causing misery on the roads.
By CLAIRE ELLIOT FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL
Published: 19:46 GMT, 11 January 2026 | Updated: 19:46 GMT, 11 January 2026
Rising temperatures after 11 days of heavy snow and sub-zero figures have left parts of Scotland submerged with drifts melting into rivers causing misery on the roads.
Just days after the mercury dropped to below minus 14C – the coldest night of the year so far – a rapid thaw combined with heavy rain has left several routes under water.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency [Sepa] yesterday issued 12 flood alerts and three flood warnings across the country, while western areas braced for winds of up to 100mph and torrential downpours.
Six separate weather warnings covered Scotland over the weekend, including an amber alert for more heavy snow in areas still under a thick blanket of white.
Today marks the 12th day in a row the country has been under extreme warnings, with two yellow alerts for heavy rain and wind in force for western regions until later this morning. These cover parts of the Highlands, Western Isles, Argyll and Bute and Perthshire.
More than four inches [110mm] was expected to fall over parts of Skye, Lochaber, Argyll and the Trossachs in just 10 hours and the Met Office said: ‘This coupled with a rapid thaw of lying snow brings the possibility of some flooding.’
A separate warning for heavy rain that was in place until midnight for the south-west was also set to see 3.5inches [90mm] fall in less than 24 hours.
The hazardous conditions saw speed restrictions in place across ScotRail’s network yesterday and traffic was diverted at the A938 Rest and Be Thankful, which is prone to landslides, as a precaution until further notice.
Firefighters deal with flooding at the A92 near Portlethen following a rapid thaw
Motorists on the A92 faced treacherous road conditions
The yellow warning for rain, which also covers parts of West Dunbartonshire, is due to end at 10am, with the alert for wind in force until 8am.
Sepa said Dumfries-shire, and the west and north, faced the greatest risk of flooding in the coming days with the melting snow accompanied by heavy rain.
The watchdog’s flood duty manager David Morgan said: ‘Possible impacts could include flooding affecting parts of communities, low lying land, transport infrastructure and individual properties.’
He added: ‘Driving conditions will be very difficult at times.’
But he stressed that staff will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Ironically after 12 days of heavy snow, Scotland’s three main ski centres, Cairngorm Mountain, the Lecht and Glenshee, were forced to shut yesterday after becoming ‘stormbound’ following more overnight heavy snow and high winds.