The north east was still feeling the effects of days of snow, wind and rain yesterday, resulting in flooding, fallen trees and further school disruption.
Residents of one Aberdeenshire suburb were woken by emergency services early on Wednesday morning and put on evacuation notice.
Homes at The Meadows in Ellon were under threat of flooding as SEPA flood alerts on the Ythan showed water levels peaked at around 2.7meters yesterday morning.
The quiet cul-de-sac experienced flooding in 2016 during Storm Frank and residents have since campaigned for a bund to be built at their road-end to prevent the river bursting its banks again.
Chairman of the Meadows Flood Action Group (MFLAG), Andy Lane, said water levels had come close to beaching the “weak point” of the river bank just north-west of the entrance to the street.
“The police came knocking in the early hours with a flood alert and had us on notice for evacuation most of the night,” he said.
“Our view is that there wouldn’t have been an issue had the bund been installed.”
An amber flood alert issued by SEPA remained in place last night warning of snowmelt affecting low lying roads and that river flooding impact “may be ongoing”.
While there was too much water elsewhere yesterday, Inverurie Academy was forced to shut its doors due to “loss of water supply”.
A spokesman for Scottish Water said they had attended the school and helped identify an “issue with part of the plumbing”, adding: “It was an issue for the school to address and not the responsibility of Scottish Water.
“However our team member assisted colleagues from Aberdeenshire Council with resolving the problem and helped ensure the water was restored to the school this afternoon.”
An Aberdeenshire spokesman confirmed the school would re-open today.
Some schools across Aberdeenshire opened later than planned to allow for safe travel for staff and pupils, with Aboyne, Tarland, Logie Coldstone and Ballater all delaying their start until 10am.
In Stonehaven, a Horse Chestnut tree demolished a footbridge at Dunnottar Wood.
High winds and snow were blamed for the destruction as the fallen tree was ear-marked for removal in the beauty spot.
Communities and recreation ranger with the Forest Enterprise Scotland team, Neil Taylor said the tree had been “of an age” and was known to be unsafe, adding: “We were planning to take it down.
“Unfortunately the recent snow and wind beat us to it.”
Aberdeen-based Met Office forecaster Stewart Brooks last night said the north east should not expect much rain over the next two to three days, but some “light rain showers” are forecast for Friday and Saturday mornings.
He added: “There will still be some snow on higher ground and more persistent rain starting on Saturday afternoon.”