Scotland is bracing for a deluge as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning for relentless rain. Beginning at 6 p.m. today and extending until midday Tuesday, this alert targets the north-east and northwest regions, heralding three days of intense precipitation and potential disruptions.
Forecasters predict up to 150mm (5.9 inches) of rain in some areas, with widespread concerns over flooding and travel delays. Homes and businesses may face water ingress, and public transport systems are likely to encounter setbacks. Rapidly melting snow from higher altitudes could exacerbate the flooding threat.
The adverse conditions coincide with high winds forecasted for today’s Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden, where Celtic faces Rangers. This follows the havoc caused by Storm Darragh last week, which battered Scotland and much of the UK.
Regions and Risks
The yellow alert spans Perth and Kinross, Stirling, the Highlands, and Argyll and Bute. While 100mm (3.9 inches) is anticipated in most affected areas, exposed hills and mountainous terrains are likely to experience significantly higher accumulations.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern noted the persistence of low cloud and mist blanketing the hills in recent days, accompanied by intermittent drizzle and more sustained rain moving into the northwest. These patterns are set to intensify with the incoming weather system.
White Christmas Unlikely
As Scots endure this prolonged washout in the lead-up to Christmas, hopes for a white holiday season remain dim. Weather models like WX Charts suggest a potential “snow bomb” beginning on Christmas Eve, but McGivern cautioned that long-term predictions lack a definitive signal for snow.
“While computer models run various scenarios, there’s no strong consensus for a snowy Christmas,” he explained, urging caution with speculative forecasts.
