The Brothock Water in town near the harbour. Water levels are high but well contained due to large volumes being stored upstream in the FSAs. Credit: Angus Council
The Brothock Water in town near the harbour. Water levels are high but well contained due to large volumes being stored upstream in the FSAs. Credit: Angus Council

Heavy rain fell across Scotland from 16 November 2022, causing significant flooding across wide areas of the east of the country.

 

Rainfall

The UK’s Met Office said close to a month’s worth of rain fell across parts of Aberdeenshire and Angus in 48 hours to 18 November. As much as 140mm of rain was recorded in Charr in Aberdeenshire. The village of Aboyne in Aberdeenshire recorded 71.4mm of rain in 24 hours on 18 November.

1. Rainfall in Scotland, UK, 16 to 18 November 2022. Image credit: UK Met Office
Rainfall in Scotland, UK, 16 to 18 November 2022. Image credit: UK Met Office

Rivers

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said “We are seeing significant impacts from rivers in parts of Aberdeenshire and Angus. Seven severe flood warnings are live in Kintore, Kemnay, Inverurie, Ballater and Aberdeen, Brechin and Finavon, and Tannadice.”

3. Levels of the South Esk River (Angus) Brechin, November 2022 Image credit: Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Levels of the South Esk River (Angus) Brechin, November 2022 Image credit: Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Damage

One person was reported missing after being swept away by flooding along the River Don near Monymusk in Aberdeenshire on the afternoon of Friday, 18 November.

Aberdeenshire Council opened rest centres in Ballater, Aboyne, Inverurie and Kemnay for those needing help and who are unable to stay in their homes. Local media reported residents of Ballater were preparing for severe flooding as levels of the Muick and Dee rivers were rising. Around 40 caravans were evacuated from Ballater Caravan Park.

A view of operation 4 in The Dammy. This a low lying park area between Arbroath and St Vigeans where there is no river wall or deep bank and this area is a natural flood plain, so the design allows for water to lie here during flood events. Debris posts have been put in to catch large debris before it goes in to the river through Arbroath.
A view of operation 4 in The Dammy. This a low lying park area between Arbroath and St Vigeans where there is no river wall or deep bank and this area is a natural flood plain, so the design allows for water to lie here during flood events. Debris posts have been put in to catch large debris before it goes in to the river through Arbroath.

Rail services were severely impacted, and hundreds of travellers were left stranded.  Several roads were flooded in Aberdeenshire as well as parts of Angus, Fife, and Dundee districts. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said “Our Operations Control rooms are receiving a high number of emergency calls due to flooding in Brechin, Forfar and Dundee. We ask the public for their co-operation. Please only call if there is a serious emergency with risk to life.”

Cars were seen partially submerged along a major road near Ladybank in Fife. Some residents evacuated their homes in Brechin. Localised flooding was reported in areas of Edinburgh, leaving vehicles stranded.

 

Copernicus EMS

Copernicus Emergency Management Service Mapping was activated on 18 November.  See EMSR640: Flood in Scotland, United Kingdom for more.

7. Copernicus EMS image showing flooding along the River Don, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom in November 2022
Copernicus EMS image showing flooding along the River Don, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom in November 2022. Image: Emergency Management Service

Arbroath Flood Protection Scheme

Despite the heavy rainfall, a recently developed flood protection scheme in Arbroath, Angus, kept high waters of Brothock water away from buildings in the town.

Upstream side of the embankment at the Brothock Meadows flood storage area (FSA). The railing indicates the entrance to the culvert, which was holding back water. The storage area worked well.
Upstream side of the embankment at the Brothock Meadows flood storage area (FSA). The railing indicates the entrance to the culvert, which was holding back water. The storage area worked well.

Eleanor Doyle, engineer at Angus Council, explained that there are three flood storage areas for the scheme, two of which are located out with the town and the third is located on parkland in Arbroath that is a historic flood plain area. The bank and wall protections along the Brothock through the towns were strengthened and heightened as required. The inclusion of the storage areas limited the height requirements for flood walls in the town which would have been required to be too excessive to contain a 1:200yr flood.

“The scheme is still to complete but thankfully operated as designed,” Eleanor Doyle said.

A view of the downstream side of the embankments at the St Vigeans FSA. River levels are controlled and well below the bank levels.
A view of the downstream side of the embankments at the St Vigeans FSA. River levels are controlled and well below the bank levels.

See more about the Arbroath (Brothock Water) Flood Protection Scheme here.