Heavy rain and flash floods cause Edinburgh travel chaos

Image copyright @DANIELLEDOTUK
Image caption One stranded motorist escapes the water on top of his car

Edinburgh has been been hit with flash flooding and thunder with one motorist stranded on a car roof.

Heavy rain prompted disruption in the west of the city across Bankhead, Clermiston and Costorphine.

Tram services were temporarily shut down in some areas as flood water covered tracks.

The MP for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine, posted footage of water lapping up the front of her constituency office on St John’s Road.

She advised people in the area to stay safe and to alert the emergency services if they were affected by flooding.

Ms Jardine said: “We’ve managed to stem the flooding and are just drying out now.

“The water appears to have gone down as quick as it rose – but we’re hearing terrible stories about people in other parts on top of cars.

“I’m worried about people coming home to flooded homes. The first thing we did was put the electricity off – if it gets into the wiring it can be dangerous.

“We’ve had heavy thunder from around 13:00 and I think the drains couldn’t cope as we’re at the foot of the hill.”

Image copyright EDINBURGH TRAMS
Image caption Flooding in Bankhead
Image copyright KENDAL DICK
Image caption Cars were submerged as they drove along Bankhead Drive

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting much of the country. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) also issued five amber flood alerts for Fife, Edinburgh and Lothians, Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders and West Central Scotland.

Sepa tweeted: “Heavy and persistent rainfall expected today, mainly across eastern regions with potential for localised impacts and surface water disruption.”

Forecasters warned that “weather bomb” downpours were likely to sweep across eastern parts of the UK between Monday and Tuesday.

Police advised motorists to take care and use alternative routes where possible.

Images on social media showed abandoned cars submerged at the side of the road in parts of Edinburgh.

Image copyright Catriona Powell
Image caption Streets were also flooded in Baberton, in the south west of the city
Image copyright EDINBURGH TRAMS
Image caption Tram services have been shut down in Bankhead amid heavy flooding

Edinburgh Trams suspended services in Bankhead until flooding subsided – services are expected to resume shortly.

It tweeted: “Flooding has subsided around Bankhead tram tracks so we’re in the process of restoring full route services.

“Please bear with us while we resume normal timetable.”

Tickets were being accepted on Lothian Buses in the interim.

Content provided by the BBC. Original piece can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-48749009

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