MOTORISTS today faced hazardous driving conditions as another band of heavy rain caused flooding and blocked roads across the central belt.

A total of 20 flood warnings were issued across Scotland and the Met Office issued amber severe weather warnings for south and east Ayrshire, as well as “be aware” warnings
for central, Tayside,
Grampian and the Highlands.
Transport Scotland said it was working closely with local authorities, Sepa and Police Scotland to monitor the situation and drivers were being advised to allow plenty of time for journeys.
The Met Office recorded 1.5inches of rain from
6pm yesterday to 6am in the Glasgow area and warned that the same amount could fall by midday - with some parts expected to see up more than two inches.
On the M77, the entry sliproad at J2 at Barrhead Road was closed because of flooding and police were directing traffic.
The M74 was partially blocked after junction 14 between Crawford and Moffat due to an accident and the A76 at New Cumnock was closed between the Pathhead junction and the Castlemains Avenue junction.
Flooding was also affecting Wallacewell Road in Robroyston and Corkerhill Road in the city’s South Side at Braidcraft Road roundabout.
The southbound dual carriageway was unaffected and remained fully open. The A71 Strathaven Road was also affected by flooding.
A flood warning was also in place in Pollok Country Park, where it stated low lying areas of the park could be prone to flooding as levels in the River Cart rise.
There was disruption for rail passengers after a cable theft caused a points failure at Newton West Junction, affecting services between Newton and Larkhall.
Passengers travelling to Newton were being advised to use services from Glasgow Central high level and tickets were valid on First Glasgow local bus services.
Services from Milngavie to Motherwell (via Hamilton) were running as an express route from
Cambuslang to Motherwell.
Delays of up to 30 minutes were expected up to midday.
There was also disruption to Virgin rail services between Carlisle and Edinburgh Waverley due to flooding at Curriehill.
A revised ferry service was operating between Oban and Castlebay (Barra), and between Castlebay and Lochboisdale due to the bad weather.
The heavy rain is expected to ease by afternoon in the central belt but will
return on Hogmanay, continuing into New Year’s Day.
However, Scotland is
expected to escape the worst of the high winds forecast for other parts of the UK, including parts of England which have already been battered
by Christmas week storms.
Engineers have restored power to the last of the homes south of the border which were cut off from electricity following the storms.
Tens of thousands of homes across the south east of England, north Wales and Cumbria have been without electricity over the last week because of damage.
caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk