UK weather: 10 people airlifted after multiple landslides on roads in Scotland

Ten people have been airlifted to safety after extreme rainfall caused multiple landslides in Scotland.

Aerial footage shared by search and rescue helicopters showed soil across the A83 between Tarbet and Lochgilphead – with the A815 also affected.

Several vehicles were stuck, and Police Scotland told Sky News that no injuries have been reported.

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Amber and yellow weather alerts for heavy downpours are in place across large parts of Scotland until Sunday morning – with a month’s worth of rain expected to fall in a single day.

Officers are urging drivers in Argyll and Bute not to travel at all – with flooding reported on roads nationwide.

Rail services have also been cancelled, and passengers in England are being urged not to travel to Scotland. Where services are running, reduced speeds are in operation.

Network Rail Scotland said its pumps in Clydebank had been “overwhelmed” by extreme rainfall – with water rising to window level on a train.

And while the mainline between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street had temporarily been closed, engineers have now concluded it is safe for services to run.

Sporting events have also been disrupted, with the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship at St Andrews postponed until Sunday.

Dundee’s Scottish Premiership game with Ross County was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, one of many football matches affected.

Up to 180mm (8in) of rain has been forecast for parts of the Highlands, in what Scottish authorities are describing as a “major rainfall event”.

Ruth Ellis, flood duty manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: “We’re likely to see extensive river and surface water flooding impacts across those areas. Danger to life, widespread property flooding, flooding of roads and disruption to infrastructure is possible.”

SEPA currently has 17 flood alerts in force – alongside 53 flood warnings.

The agency went on to warn “this is not just a normal autumn flooding event” – and it was really concerned about families travelling during the school holidays, as some may currently be camping.

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Summer-like temperatures in the South

There is a substantial North/South divide in the weather this weekend.

Temperatures in South East England could reach 24C (75F) on Saturday and 25C (77F) on Sunday – with the Midlands and Wales also remaining sunny in unusual conditions for October.

Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, said the fine and settled conditions will continue throughout the weekend, although there will be slightly more cloud and hazy sunshine on Sunday.

He added: “[It will be] dry for pretty much everyone in the southern half of the country and unseasonably warm temperatures as well.

“As we get into the very far North of England and into Scotland that’s where the difference starts, with some persistent and heavy rain across Scotland and mostly notably in western Scotland, where we’re likely to see the highest totals.”