Moray towns have been put on unseasonable flood alerts following days of relentless rain.
Today the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) warned residents in Keith and Buckie to be prepared to protect their property from rising water. An amber warning was issued for the area to tell locals that flooding was possible.
Heavy rain began falling across Moray on Tuesday morning, showing no sign of letting up yesterday and is forecast to continue until the early hours of tomorrow.
A motorcyclist came off his bike near Dufftown as drivers were warned about difficult road conditions. Emergency services were called to the road to Aberlour at Bluehill Quarry shortly before 2pm where the rider was treated for bruises.
The River Spey and River Isla swelled throughout the afternoon after the warning – which also covered the coastal communities of Cullen, Portessie and Portgordon – was issued.
Last night, Moray Council reported surface water was making driving conditions tricky on some roads but no serious disruption had been reported.
However, a spokesman for the local authority warned the situation could change if the forecasted rain continued through the night.
Sepa advised: “Persistent rain has affected this area overnight. Some rivers and smaller watercourses across Aberdeenshire are now responding to this rain and some localised flooding of low lying land and roads is possible.”
The Met Office issued a yellow warning for Moray yesterday but expected the rain to ease overnight. The unseasonably wet weather was not confined to the region with residents in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire also placed on alert.
The chief forecaster said: “The area of rain that has affected the north-east of Scotland is expected to give further totals of 20-40mm (up to 1.5in). Added to already recorded values of up to 40mm (1.5in) since Tuesday, this is expected to swell rivers and streams.”
Police reported minor roads had been closed in Aberdeenshire yesterday as a result of flooding but routes in Moray had remained clear.
