GLASGOW was back on flood alert today just 24 hours after torrential rain triggered road and rail chaos.

Forecasters warned of thunderstorms and heavy rain this afternoon and predicted the wet weather would continue over the weekend.

The gloomy forecast came as the city continued mopping-up operations this morning after torrential downpours triggered mayhem across the city and the west of Scotland.

Train services out of Glasgow's Queen Street Station were halted for several hours.And flooding at Dalmarnock railway station forced ScotRail to cancel services between Hyndland and Partick on the Argyle Line, which links the city with a number of Lanarkshire communities.

Firemen were forced to wade through knee-high flood water in the city's West End to rescue drivers trapped in cars in Bilsland Drive, near Queen Margaret Drive. Stranded motorists were helped into a dinghy.

Local resident Robin McChesney, 35, said: "The rain was incredible. As I came up Queen Margaret Drive I saw all these firefighters and a boat. They had one woman, who I think they'd helped out of a car, and were taking her out of the flooded area.

"I think that earlier another woman driver had to be rescued from her car because I saw her being looked after by the rescue team."

Surface water caused problems on the M8 motorway near Baillieston in the city's East End while part of the A70 was also closed for a time. Earlier today Balmore Road remained flooded between Skirsa Street and Blackhill Road in Maryhill with road chiefs telling motorists to find an alternative route until workmen had cleared away the excess water.

But there were predictions of more floods today as Glasgow was warned to expect thunder storms and heavy rain this afternoon.

A Met Office spokesman said: "We expect between 20mm and 30mm will fall in just a few hours. That is about two weeks worth of rain for this time of year. A normal June's average rainfall could accumulate within a few hours. There is a possibility of localised flooding and difficult driving conditions."

Forecaster Tom Tobler at MeteoGroup UK also warned of floods but said the rain was expected to die out by tonight, with light showers falling across the city tomorrow and over the weekend.

Friday is expected to be warm and humid with a top temperature of 20C although conditions at the weekend will be cooler.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk