Flooding in Aberdeenshire and the North East

The recent heavy rain, especially yesterday where in Aberdeen 39mm and in Edinburgh 32mm fell in the 12 hours from 6am to 6pm yesterday has caused havoc in the North East of Scotland with the main rail line between Edinburgh and Aberdeen has now closed.

The centre of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire (where the Edinburgh to Aberdeen rail line goes through) is underwater after the rivers Cowie and Carron both burst their banks, in the village of Huntly also in Aberdeenshire around 100 people have been evacuated as the local river burst it's banks and Arbroath in Angus is virtually cut off as well with both the rail and roads in and out of Arbroath impassable.

At times yesterday rail passengers on trains from Edinburgh going through to Aberdeen were forced off at Arbroath, where they were then advised that alternative rail replacement buses could not be organised because of the heavy rain leaving a lot of folk either stranded, relying on people to come and get them or heading back to Edinburgh.

Tayside police were advising drivers to stay at home and only drive if really necessary following landslides at Brechin and Arbroath.

The rain was so bad yesterday that the SPL match between Dundee United and Rangers was abandoned at half-time.

I hope all my friends and colleagues in the North East are okay?

According to the BBC website the following roads remain closed, but obviously do check before you travel in the North East today, from St. Andrews upwards on the East coast;

• 
  The A96 at Huntly and between Keith and Fochabers.
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  The A92 between Johnshaven and St Cyrus.
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  The A947 Cowie to St Catherines.
• 
  The A920 Dufftown to Huntly road.
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  The B993 Kemnay to Monnymusk road.
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  The B977 Esht to Dunnecht road.
• 
  The B9016 Buckie to Keith road.
• 
  The B9170 between Inverurie and Olmeldrum and between Darra and Cummingston.

The following roads are only passable with care:

• 
  The A98 Fraserburgh to Buckie.
• 
  The A96 Inverurie to Huntly.
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  The A93 at Banchory.
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  The A941 between Rothes and Criagellachie.
• 
  In Tayside the A92 is closed at Inverkeilor, it has now re-opened at westbound traffic at Ardestie. The B955 Aylth to Meigle road is closed.

In Fife all roads are now open again although the police say they are monitoring the situation.
The following rail lines are closed due to flooding. Inverness to Aberdeen, although there are trains running between Aberdeen and Elgin. Services between Aberdeen and Dundee are suspended.