Police have warned that the a busy Aberdeen road is set to close tonight as the north-east is once again battered by heavy rain, winds and floods.
Following another day of heavy downpours, a number of rivers have already burst their banks today and there are concerns that the River Dee in Aberdeen could follow this evening.
UPDATE: Three Aberdeen roads have now been closed.
Police have tweeted advising that Aberdeen’s busy Riverside Drive is expected to close tonight, with high tide on the Dee due around 9pm.
River Dee at Riverside Drive and Garthdee getting close to bursting its banks. The road is open at the moment. 1/2
— NE Roads Updates (@PolScotRoadsNE) January 4, 2016
But is expected to close because of flooding later. High tide expected around 9pm. 2/2 #ABZTravel
— NE Roads Updates (@PolScotRoadsNE) January 4, 2016
Riverside Drive in #Aberdeen pic.twitter.com/zE41jYJK75
— Richard Laing (@richardlaing123) January 4, 2016
Elsewhere, on the River Dee, the historic Abergeldie Castle, close to the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, has been left on the brink of collapse into the swollen river after intense flooding.
Areas across Grampian remain under a Met Office amber “be prepared” warnings for heavy rain, with Aberdeen City Council closing the city’s Duthie Park car park to vehicles.
A total of 35 flood alerts are still in place from the Scottish Environmental Propection Agency as communities across the north-east battle the conditions.
Vincent Fitzsimons, Sepa’s hydrology duty manager, said: “Rivers have been rising since Saturday and flood warnings have been issued.
“It’s important to note that the rain is less intense but more prolonged than during Storm Frank.
“This means that rivers will rise more slowly but then stay high for much longer – from Sunday through till Tuesday. The peak for most areas will be on Sunday night and Monday morning.”
Mr Fitzsimons said river levels in the North East are of most concern, including those around Kintore, Inverurie, Brechin and Aberdeen, but the agency is also keeping a close eye on communities in the Borders and Caithness.
Some of the debris along the #riverdee. Hay bales at the #Maryculter Holiday Park. pic.twitter.com/jR5KSWat2z
— Callum Stuart (@culterheritage) January 4, 2016
The river Dee near #Aberdeen raising all the time today #flooding #Aberdeenshire pic.twitter.com/nch7eqdQ9O
— Graeme Gordon (@thegraemegordon) January 4, 2016