People across the Scottish Borders are being encouraged to prepare and be aware by understanding the information available to them as the region heads into the autumn and winter seasons.
The information sources include the Council’s SB Alert and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) enhanced Flood Warning service.
SEPA completed a full review and recalibration of the service earlier this year, using the latest rainfall and water-level information to improve forecasting models and update warning thresholds.
Number of flood warning areas increases
Changes introduced in July increased the number of local Flood Warning areas across the Scottish Borders from 30 to 32, with more targeted warnings introduced for communities around Selkirk and Preston to Paxton.
Now both organisations have highlighted some of the science and monitoring behind those warnings - at a working gauging station on the River Tweed in Peebles.
People can pass one of SEPA’s gauging stations without ever knowing what it is or what it is doing, but information collected at sites like these helps specialists understand changing river conditions and forms part of the wider picture used to forecast flooding.
The Scottish Borders Flood Alert gives early information when flooding is possible across the wider area, while local Flood Warnings provide more targeted information when flooding is expected in defined communities.
People can register with Floodline to receive messages for the places that matter to them. That can include where they live, work or regularly travel through, as well as areas where friends or family live.
Residents can sign up to SB Alert for local information about weather warnings, incidents and other emergencies. Scottish Borders Council’s Emergency Planning pages also have useful information on preparing for and responding to emergencies.
Councillor Robin Tatler, Executive Member for Public Safety and Resilience
“Heading into our first autumn and winter with the enhanced Flood Warning service, we want people across the Borders to be prepared and understand the information available to them.
“Flooding can happen quickly, so we would encourage everyone to check the flood risk in their area, sign up for Floodline alerts and to SB Alert for local information about weather warnings, incidents and other emergencies.
“The Council also have useful information on preparing for and responding to emergencies on our emergency planning pages of our website.
“Working together with SEPA we want to provide an enhanced service which provides more locally targeted information, helping communities be better prepared for the weather ahead.”
Prepare: know your risk and look ahead
When unsettled weather is approaching, the Scottish Flood Forecast provides a three-day outlook showing where flooding from rivers, surface water and the sea may occur and the potential impacts.
Produced by the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service, a partnership between SEPA and the Met Office, the forecast is updated every day.
There is also useful information on the Council's Emergency Planning pages.