Storm Georgina brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland on 24 January, 2018. Gusts up to 85mph / 136 km/h were recorded in western areas of the country.
A combination of snowmelt and heavy rain caused flooding in parts of southern Scotland. At one point during the storm the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) had issued 32 flood warnings.
The worst of the flooding was seen in the Whitesands area of Dumfries after the River Nith burst its banks. The river reached 4.25 metres at around 16:00 on 24 January, well above the normal range of between 0.3 and 3 metres.
Police and local authorities closed roads. Several properties were flooded and local media reported flood water was up to 4 feet / 1.2 metres deep. Farmland in the Nith Valley was also flooded.
Rail services were disrupted after a landslide partially buried tracks near Kirkconnel in Dumfries and Gallwoay. Another landslide in Winchburghin West Lothian interrupted rail services between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Elsewhere in Scotland, the Scottish Borders Council announced that around 10 roads, including the A68 road at Jedburgh, had been closed due to surface flooding and fallen trees.
Local media said that the Teviot river burst its banks in Hawick
Whitesands Flood Protection Project
A scheme to provide flood protection and regeneration for the Whitesands area of Dumfries was agreed in November 2015.
The scheme is based on a ‘raised walkway’ concept with a combination of walls, glass panels and flood gates providing flood protection.
Social Media
WHITESANDS – #DUMFRIES
The river Nith is due to flood again today and as such we have now closed both carparks on the Whitesands.
The river is expected to flood the road and into Friars Vennel. We will need to close the Whitesands to traffic fairly soon #DGRoads pic.twitter.com/Ybn1FwDWPN
— NithsdalePolice (@NithsdalePolice) January 24, 2018
Water levels on the Whitesands have reached their peak and are now slowly receding. Roads still remain closed and it may be some time before diversions are lifted for this area. pic.twitter.com/KhjT4Uraau
— D&G Council (@dgcouncil) January 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/trafficscotland/status/956106090361622528
Roads Update
Due to weather and melting snow, we are experiencing a number of issues on our roads:https://t.co/AUCdkjBCTM pic.twitter.com/ufJsiKJdtk
— D&G Council (@dgcouncil) January 24, 2018
Latest photos from the Whitesands in #Dumfries.
Whitesands remains closed due to the flood water. #DGRoads pic.twitter.com/TRILaM0ke9
— NithsdalePolice (@NithsdalePolice) January 24, 2018
River Nith has burst it's banks today causing flooding on several roads. Be #FloodAware and avoid driving through flood water. #DriveAware pic.twitter.com/1SDcJgUmJS
— @DGfire.safety (@DGfire_safety) January 24, 2018
River Nith in Dumfries crosses The Whitesands this afternoon. #Dumfries. #nith #flood pic.twitter.com/Af1SzbjO7F
— Jim W (@jimslaptop) January 24, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Hawick
C - Kirkconnel
D - Winchburghin
Magnitude
River Nith, Whitesands, Dumfries - January 24 to January 24, 2018
Normal range is 0.3 to 3 metres
Craigdarroch - January 24 to January 25, 2018
Figures from SEPA who give totals in 36 hour periods.
Chesters - January 24 to January 25, 2018
Figures from SEPA
Brockhoperig - January 24 to January 25, 2018
Figures from SEPA
Upper Monachlye - January 24 to January 25, 2018
Figures from SEPA
Damages
Whitesands - January 24 to January 25, 2018
estimated figure. Railway tracks in 2 areas (Winchburghin and Kirkconnel) were damaged by landslides.
