More than 24 hours of relentless rain has caused flooding across Moray this morning.
Residents in Garmouth have been warned that the River Spey is on course to break its banks and could swamp properties in the village.
The B9104 road is expected to be closed shortly, as Moray Council anticipates it will also suffer a deluge from the river.
A spokesman said: “The Spey is continuing to rise and flooding in Garmouth is likely.
“Moray Council has already dispatched pallets of sandbags to the village.
“The road to Spey Bay is expected to be closed shortly due to surface water rendering it impassable.”
The torrential downpour has already caused a landslip along the A941 road outside Rothes.
The road remained open although council workers sent there to ensure traffic was able to safely pass the scene.
The road from Elgin to Miltonduff was also left swamped, and Dallas has been “cut off” to traffic.
Sandbags have been delivered to the village in an effort to protect homes from rising water.
Mosstowie, Crossroads and Dallas primary schools have all been closed because of flooding.
Scores of commuters have been rearranging transport into work after Scotrail cancelled trains due to the line between Elgin and Keith being flooded.
Passengers travelling north have been taken by bus from the Keith station.
And services travelling from Inverness towards Aberdeen have terminated at Forres, with passengers having to sort out their own alternative transport.
The firm said: “Unfortunately we are having some trouble sourcing replacement buses.
“We are still trying but, until we’ve managed to get some in place, we would recommend people make your own arrangements where possible.”
The organisation says the disruption is expected to last until noon, as things stand.
The River Lossie through Elgin has tested the capability of the town’s new £86million flood prevention scheme, rising to levels locals say it has not reached “in years”.
The footbridge over the River Lossie at the rear of the Moray Leisure Centre is to be closed due to surface water on one side making it impassable.
The A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road at Keith has also been described as causing problems for motorists due to surface water.
Rain is forecast to stop at noon. The council’s roads teams are out across the area responding to a variety of calls concerning debris and water on roads.
The recent weather is similar to that experienced by Moray in 2014 in the wake of Hurricane Bertha although fortunately the impact of the event this time is not as severe.
Should anyone need sandbags to protect their property, these are available from local council depots.
The council’s housing needs team are also on standby should any emergency accommodation be required. Contact number for both these is 01343 543451.
Roads worse affected are:
A95 Keith – Banff road just out of Keith – this is also closed within Aberdeenshire
B9018 – Keith to Cullen road – several sections under water
B9104 – Fochabers – Spey Bay to be closed in case Spey breaks its banks
U132H – Slatequarry road – minor landslip affecting the road
B9010 – Elgin – Dallas road near Cloddoch – travel not advised
Miltonduff area, travel also not advised due to water levels.
