Weather / Heavy rain causes flooding in several areas
Peerie Shop Cafe in Lerwick was forced to close due to flooding
FOLLOWING heavy rainfall on Wednesday morning Shetland Islands Council has received a number of calls about flooded roads in several areas.
The road which passes by the Tingwall Primary School has been blocked off police after the loch flooded.
The Peerie Shop Cafe in Lerwick was also forced to close due to flooding, but it has reopened.
There are also a number of changes to the public bus service.
The council said roads staff were working to clear blocked drains and ditches wherever possible and to place warning signs in affected areas.
Drivers are advised to slow down and take care when driving through areas of standing water, which can be of unknown depth, with heavy rain forecast to continue throughout the day.
Temperatures are expected to fall close to freezing on Wednesday night into Thursday, with a forecast of strong northerly winds and snow showers across the islands.
Anyone planning to travel on Thursday morning should “plan ahead for possible disruption on roads and public transport”, the SIC added.
Due to flooding on the lower Gremista road, the town bus service is diverted and will only stop Shetland College on the upper road.
A spokesperson for Viking Energy, meanwhile, said measures to control water at the Sand Water construction site are doing their job.
“Silt mitigations across our construction site have held up well despite what has been torrential rain,” they said.
“To clarify, silt fencing is not in place to stop the water but to allow clean water to pass while collecting the silt.”
Tingwall, meanwhile, appears to be one area particularly affected by the rainfall.
Police also reminded people to drive safely, highlighting flooding on the A970 at Tingwall.
There have also been reports of landslides in Tingwall and Weisdale.
Duty flood manager of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Pascal Lardet said: “SEPA is aware of reports of flooding across Shetland today.
“A flood alert is now in place and we will continue to closely monitor the situation into this evening.
“Rain is expected to continue until around 8pm this evening. We urge members of the public to follow advice to stay safe. Importantly you should never walk through flood water – 15cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet and hazards can be hidden under the water.
“Drive with care, and do not travel through deep fast flowing water. It only takes 30cm of fast flowing water to move an average family sized car. Stay away from coastal areas, especially if there is spray and wave overtopping.”
Fire appliances were also called to reports of a house being flooded in Gott on Wednesday morning.
Do you have any photos of flooding? Email them to us at news@shetnews.co.uk or via Facebook messages.
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