Scotland is bracing itself for the impact of Storm Babet, a severe weather system that has already claimed a life and left hundreds of people evacuated from their homes. The body of a 57-year-old woman was recovered from the River Esk in Angus on Thursday, with police confirming that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
The storm, which made landfall in Ireland on Wednesday, has brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland, with the Met Office issuing a rare red weather alert warning of a “danger to life from fast-flowing or deep flood water”. The warning covers a large area of eastern Scotland, including the towns of Brechin and Montrose, where flood defences are expected to be breached within 24 hours.
Over 400 properties in Brechin, Tannadice, and Finavon have been affected, with residents told to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere. Angus council has set up three rest centres for those affected, with Aberdeenshire council also opening rest centres in Stonehaven and Laurencekirk.
The Scottish government has urged people to avoid all travel in the worst-hit areas, with police warning of extremely dangerous driving conditions and asking people to pay heed to closure signs across the network. Transport Scotland has recommended that people in amber areas make only essential journeys and prepare for a “high level of disruption to the transport network”.
Storm BabetScotRail has imposed mass train cancellations, expected to last until Saturday, while Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has warned of power cuts and disruptions. The company has restored power to 7,000 homes and is working to reconnect a further 3,000.
The British Geological Survey has warned of landslides in affected areas, with a spokesperson saying that infrastructure slopes are likely to be affected, potentially disrupting roads and railway. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has urged the public to stay away from cliff edges and the coast during the storm.
Storm Babet is expected to last until Saturday, with the Met Office predicting up to 20-22cm of rain in some areas of eastern Scotland. The storm has already caused widespread disruption in Ireland, where more than 100 properties were flooded in the town of Midleton, County Cork.
The Scottish government has promised to do everything in its power to protect the public and minimize the impact of the storm. “Storm Babet is still in its early stages and the worst impacts are yet to come,” said Deputy First Minister Shona Robison. “Protecting the public is our immediate priority, and we are coordinating a national effort to ensure that people are safe.”