Emergency meeting over heavy rain

Attending the meeting will be Scottish Borders Council officials, the Met Office, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and partners including Police Scotland. The heavy rain is expected to impact on large parts of the western Scottish Borders.

Heavy rainfall, falling on saturated ground, could cause river levels in some areas to reach and potentially exceed those experienced earlier this month during Storm Desmond (December 5 and 6).

Jim Fraser, Scottish Borders Council’s Emergency Planning Officer, said: “The risk is very much dependent on the level of rainfall and where it falls, and at this stage there is still a degree of uncertainty in respect of these details, and also the timing of the rainfall.

“However, I would urge all Borderers to be vigilant and keep an eye on the Met Office website and SEPA website for updates on the weather and flood warnings. People should be preparing for the impact of this forecasted heavy rain as early as possible, which will help to mitigate the impacts when it actually arrives.”