Forecasters have warned of the dangers of flooding and fast-moving water as long periods of heavy rain sweep across Scotland.
An Amber Alert was issued for the south-west of the country at midnight, while a weaker Yellow Alert was issued for much of the western continent.
The Met Office said widespread rainfall of 50-70mm was possible in amber areas, rising to 110-130mm in the Galloway Hills and other parts of the Southern Highlands during Sunday.
The report warned that homes and businesses could be flooded, fast-flowing rivers or flooding could pose a “risk to life”, and bus and rail travelers could face cancellations or delays.
The A78 in Greenock was closed overnight due to flooding. Transport Scotland said the road between the town and Inverkip remains closed in both directions due to water in the lane.
Diversions are in place to divert traffic via the Gourok Coast Highway.
The Met Office yellow alert covers much of southwest Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders, parts of South Lanarkshire and parts of Ayrshire, and lasts throughout the day.
Strong gusty south-westerly winds are also expected throughout Sunday, causing conditions to worsen.
Separate yellow weather warnings have been issued for much of the country, including Glasgow, Fife and Stirling. These warnings will remain in effect until the end of Sunday or until 09:00 on Monday, depending on the region.
Forecasters believe the rainfall could cause some flooding [Getty Images]
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued 10 flood area warnings ahead of the heaviest rainfall, with the latest flood warning updates posted online.
ScotRail has canceled Sunday services between Kilmarnock and Dumfries as a precautionary measure.
Police Scotland said people should avoid traveling unless necessary, while Transport Scotland warned that poor conditions could affect travel.
Scottish Borders Council said a multi-agency incident response team will be working from the council’s emergency control center at 07:00 on Sunday to coordinate the response and any recovery efforts.
Regular updates will be provided to the public through SB Alert and a dedicated severe weather page on the council’s website.
The local government said it would monitor river levels with the State Environmental Protection Administration, while surface water flooding could also become an issue.
Scottish Government Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop advised people to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for their journeys.
She said heavy rain “could affect transport networks”.
Hislop added: “It is important that people plan their journey before setting off. Motorists should ensure routes are clear, follow Police Scotland travel advice and drive accordingly.
“If you are planning to travel by train, ferry or plane, please check with your operator to see if these conditions have any impact on your service.”
Sergeant Andrew Buckley, of Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit, said motorists should “drive accordingly, taking care to increase stopping distances” and plan alternative routes.
He added that people should make sure they have enough fuel, warm clothing, food and water, as well as a fully charged mobile phone, in case they are affected by the disruption.
Trains and ferries
Traffic on the A83 ‘Rest and Give Thanks’ road in Argyll has been diverted along the alternative Old Military Road route as a safety precaution in the event of a landslide.
A decision to resume traffic on the A83 trunk road will be made on Monday following safety checks on the road and hillsides.
ScotRail said speed restrictions would be introduced on some routes as well as services being canceled from Kilmarnock to Dumfries.
The rail operator said in a social media post: “As a safety precaution, speed restrictions will be in place on parts of our Oban, Fort William, Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh routes.
“These measures will be in place from 18:00 tonight and continue until 09:00 on Monday. Please note that journey times will be extended as a result.”
Many CalMac ferry services have also been canceled due to strong winds
The warning comes just days after Storm Bram swept across the country.
A yellow wind warning has been issued for north-west Scotland, with high winds overturning a number of HGVs on Tuesday evening, causing the M74 to be closed between junctions 12 and 13 near Abington, South Lanarkshire.
The second storm of the season also caused problems for rail travelers, with downed trees, damaged overhead power lines and more than 1,000 homes without power.
At the height of the storm, gusts of 76mph were recorded at South Uist in the Western Isles, with similar speeds also felt in Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway.
