Storm Gerrit LIVE: Weather wreaks havoc in Dundee, Perth & Fife
Storm Gerrit brought disruption across Tayside and Fife on Wednesday.
Heavy rain and winds of around 60mph winds caused havoc, while heavy downpours have made driving conditions hazardous and brought the threat of flooding.
It followed the Met Office’s yellow weather warning which continued until midnight.
The alert for rain and wind warned of potential damage to buildings[1] and the possibility of flying debris due to high winds.
Disruption has continued into Thursday.
Perth and Kinross disruption and incidents
The following roads were closed at 8.35am on Thursday.
- A93 Perth to Blairgowrie, closed at Cargill Caravan (flooding)
- C437 Burrelton to Wolfhill (flooding)
- C435 Woodside to Cargill (flooding)
- B954 Alyth to Meigle at Crathies Bridge (flooding)
- C423 New Alyth to Ardler at Aberbothrie (flooding)
- C405 Abernyte to Woodside, near Lintrose West Lodge (fallen tree)
- U120 Cargill (fallen tree)
- A93 snow gates at Glenshee (winds and drifting snow)
- A822 Inver to Corbenic (landslide)
The following roads were listed as passable with care:
- A913 Abernethy, past Jamesfield towards Fife Council boundary markers
- C416 Glenfoot to Glentarkie (fallen tree remains in place, but has been trimmed back)
- A93 Bridge of Cally at bridge (single file traffic)
- A94 Coupar Angus to Burrelton at old railway bridge at Keithick
The floodgates were closed on the South Inch and North Inch in Perth.
The gates at the harbour and lower Friarton were also closed, with the exception of five gates providing access to businesses.
Homes in Rose Terrace and Barossa Place were swamped[2]. It comes after properties in the two streets were deluged when the River Tay burst its banks in October.
Feus Road was also flooded.
Water was high[3] on the North Inch, close to Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth city centre.
Flooding on Feus Road, Perth.
Methven was hit particularly hard. There were reports of flooding at the A85 at Huntingtower, the Tibbermore junction, Burnbrae (on the road to Crieff) and the back road from Pitcairngreen.
Pitcairngreen itself was flooded, and at Dalcrue over the River Almond. One villager wrote: “There is still traffic moving within the village but as for through traffic it seems to only be 4v4 and bigger vehicles. Unless you’re in a high-wheel base vehicle you’ll need a boat.”
Power was out at 21 properties in the Invergowrie area from 10am while supply was also lost in Alyth.
Phone lines were out in Aberuthven.
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said: “Dunkeld looked appalling yesterday with the water going down Atholl Street.
“There are a handful of properties which might have been flooded in Perth but it is the county area that’s got it bad. The road from Perth to Blairgowrie is still closed I believe.
“There was an enormous effort to get people out yesterday. A lot of people were still on holiday. It’s worth acknowledging the efforts people have made to help out.”
Storm Gerrit snow on the B827, Comrie. Image: Sharon Carnegie
Snow also caused disruption across the north and west of Perth and Kinross.
The A9 was closed in both directions at Dalnaspidal due to blizzard-like conditions that led to a “major incident[4]” being declared.
In Pitlochry, bus service 82 was stuck in snow.
The Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre in Comrie was open and offering shelter[5] to snowbound travellers.
Glenshee Ski Centre[6] was closed on Wednesday and Thursday as the snowgates were shut between Spittal of Glenshee and Braemar on the A93.
The A924 Bridge of Cally to Edradour was shut due to snow.
Fife disruption and incidents
The River Eden burst its banks in Strathmiglo, leaving several homes under inches of water[7].
Drone images show extensive flooding in Cupar[8] with many roads under several inches of flood water.
The storm left Ali’s Discount Store under 3ft of floodwater. Its owner, Mohamed Iqbal, says he may never be able to reopen[9] the shop.
Mohamed Iqbal, owner of Ali’s Discount Superstore on Skinners Steps for the past 17 years, says his shop has been destroyed.
Several roads were submerged in Cupar. Image: Bruce C Russell
A council spokesperson said: “We had to close Burnside, Cupar, due to the burn overrunning. Sandbags were put out at houses to stem the ingress of the water.
“Also, Kinloss Park area due to the burn bursting its banks.”
Video footage[10] showed flooding at Leslie in Paterson Park.
Stagecoach confirmed on Thursday that the 42 bus service would omit Tayport due to flooding on the B945.
On Wednesday the A915 Leven to Lundin Links Road was blocked by a fallen tree.
Further along the A915 the stretch between St Andrews and Largo was also flooded, with motorists urged to avoid the area.
The A916 road between Kennoway and Cupar was impassable due to a fallen tree.
A tree blocking the A916 Kennoway to Cupar road. Image: Fife Jammer Locations/FJL
A fallen tree blocked the access to Duffus Park on Carslogie Road.
Flooding also blocked the road between Falkland and Strathmiglo, while Bankwell Crescent in the village was also flooded.
There were reports that the River Eden had burst its banks, causing flooding to Strathmiglo Park.
Power was out in parts of Tayport, Newport-on-Tay, Wormit, Newburgh, Cupar and Leven.
SP Energy Networks restored power across all areas[11].
Angus disruption and incidents
Angus Council said travel on most roads was not advisable due to water run-off from fields.
The following closures were in place at 4pm on Wednesday
- A930 Ferry Road, Monifieth
- B954 at Newtyle
- B928 closed at Craichie
- A94 Castleton of Eassie.
- A932 near Murton Farm
- C37 road to Auchmithie
- A930 Ferry Road, Monifieth
The A92 was closed in both directions at Ardestie.
The westbound carriageway was also closed at Elliot Roundabout in Arbroath as well as all westbound onslips.
The A90 near Gateside, Angus, was at a standstill before being closed. Image: by Fubar News
Stagecoach confirmed on Thursday that the 27 bus service from Forfar to Arbroath would be unable to serve Kingsmuir, Craichie, Bowriefaulds and Letham.
The service will divert from Forfar along the B9113 Montrose Road and then head to Friockheim.
A fallen tree near Balgay Bridge in Dundee’s Balgay Park. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson
Dundee disruption and incidents
A tree crashed onto a train[12] in Broughty Ferry on Wednesday afternoon, causing train delays and alarm.
ScotRail defended the safety of its InterCity 125 locomotives[13] after the crash.
A tree crashed on to a train in Broughty Ferry. Image: Paul Sweeney
Baldovie Road was reportedly flooded, while the Riverside Recycling Centre was closed due to flooding[14].
Residents in Dundee’s Tofthill Place were left in shock after a line of trees crashed down on to their houses during Storm Gerrit[15].
Trains disruption
ScotRail[16] urged those travelling between Aberdeen and Dundee as well as Inverness and Perth to consider making alternative arrangements on Thursday.
Trains from Dundee Railway Station were delayed. Image: Chris Ferguson/DC Thomson
The lines from Aberdeen to Dundee and Edinburgh to Cupar were closed.
The line from Dundee to Cupar remained closed on Thursday[17].
Safety checks were required on each of these routes in daylight[18].
Network Rail[19] will provide updates throughout the day.
This page is being regularly updated.
References
- ^ The alert for rain and wind warned of potential damage to buildings (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ were swamped (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ Water was high (www.facebook.com)
- ^ major incident (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ offering shelter (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ Glenshee Ski Centre (www.facebook.com)
- ^ several homes under inches of water (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ Drone images show extensive flooding in Cupar (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ may never be able to reopen (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ Video footage (www.facebook.com)
- ^ restored power across all areas (www.spenergynetworks.co.uk)
- ^ tree crashed onto a train (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ defended the safety of its InterCity 125 locomotives (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ closed due to flooding (www.facebook.com)
- ^ after a line of trees crashed down on to their houses during Storm Gerrit (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ ScotRail (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ remained closed on Thursday (twitter.com)
- ^ Safety checks were required on each of these routes in daylight (www.thecourier.co.uk)
- ^ Network Rail (twitter.com)