A RARE red weather warning for rain has been extended as parts of Scotland prepare to be cut off potentially for days as the northeast is battered by Storm Babet.
An earlier Met Office warning had been issued for parts of Angus and south Aberdeenshire and has now been extended to include western parts of Tayside.
Northern parts of Dundee are included in the red zone, which extends northwards up the coast to Stonehaven. Inland areas to the east between Perth and Pitlochry are also affected.
Storm Babet is expected to bring 70mph gusts and more than a month’s worth of rain in the worst-affected regions of the UK on Thursday.
Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and some communities could be cut off by flooded roads, forecasters said.
READ MORE: ScotRail announces huge travel disruption ahead of Storm Babet
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had eight flood warnings in place as of 11am on Thursday, along with 14 flood alerts.
Households and businesses can expect power outages and some areas could be cut off for days, with people urged to check for flood updates, avoid travel and expect school closures.
Angus Council said schools will close at lunchtime on Thursday and remain shut on Friday to “ensure the safety of children, young people, parents, and school staff”.
Mass train cancellations have been imposed by ScotRail, expected to last from Thursday until Saturday.
It is the first red warning for rain issued in the UK since Storm Dennis in February 2020.
An amber wind warning has also been issued for parts of eastern Scotland.
Storm Babet hit Ireland on Wednesday after sweeping in from the Atlantic, with heavy rain causing extensive flooding in parts of the country.
Members of the Irish Defence Forces were deployed in the town of Midleton, Co Cork, where more than 100 properties were flooded.
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