SEVERAL flood alerts and warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) as the country prepares for a weekend of heavy rain and strong winds.

With a Met Office yellow rain warning in place across much of southern and western Scotland, Sepa warned of travel disruption and advised people in affected areas to take extra care.

Mark Franklin, the body’s flood duty manager, said: “Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across much of Scotland on Saturday and Sunday.

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“Flooding impacts from rivers and surface water are possible across much of the south west and west of Scotland, including Argyll, much of central Scotland and extending across Tayside into Angus and Aberdeenshire. Impacts may include flooding of land and roads, disruption to travel and difficult driving conditions.

“There may also be disruption from spray and waves overtopping today along the Solway coast, west coast, the Caithness, Sutherland and Moray coastlines and around the Orkney and Shetland Islands.”

A flood alert is early advice that flooding is possible across a wider area, while flood warnings are more specific and issued for places where Sepa has gauges on rivers to measure water height.

Flood alerts are currently in place in:

  • Ayrshire and Arran
  • Dumfries and Galloway
  • Orkney
  • Skye and Lochaber
  • Tayside
  • Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City
  • Argyll and Bute
  • Central Scotland
  • Dundee and Angus
  • Findhorn Nairn Moray and Speyside
  • Scottish Border
  • West Central Scotland

Meanwhile, local flood warnings are in place in:

  • Ayr to Troon
  • Loch Ryan
  • West Luce Bay
  • Outer Wigtown Bay
  • Churchill Barriers
  • Fort William
  • Corpach and Caol
  • The River Isla at Coupar Angus
  • Upper Tay
  • Innerpeffray to Bridge of Earn
  • Glen Lyon
  • Crieff to Innerpeffray
  • Carse of Lennoch to Lochlane
  • Bridge of Ruthven to Leitfie
  • Ballinluig to Logierait
  • Aberbothrie

At present there are no severe flood warnings in place.

Sepa has issued the following advice amid the weather warnings:

  • Check Floodline to stay up to date with alerts and warnings: visit sepa.org.uk/floodupdates
  • Don’t walk through flood water
  • Drive with care and do not drive through deep fast flowing water
  • If you are walking beside rivers take extra care