Five more flood alerts issued as Scotland prepares to be battered by thunderstorms

Five additional flood alerts have been issued across Scotland as the country braces itself for days of battering rainfall.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) yesterday warned about the potential for floods in ten areas of the country ahead of the anticipated thunderstorms.

But the torrential downpours are expected to become more widespread over Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning that another five areas have been added to the list of flood alerts.

Caithness & Sutherland, Easter Ross & Great Glen, Findhorn Nairn Moray & Speyside, Skye & Lochaber and Wester Ross have now been put on flood alert.

Around 120mm of rain is expected to land over just a couple of days in some parts of the country (Garry F McHarg Daily Record)

They join Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Central Scotland, Dundee and Angus, Edinburgh and the Lothians, Fife, The Scottish Borders, Tayside and West Central Scotland.

This comes after the Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings across the country over the coming days.

The first of which is for thunderstorms, which are due to hit most of Scotland from midday today.

Lightning and hail is expected to lash down over a 12 hour period, with up to 60mm of rain potentially falling over just three hours.

Flood alerts have been issued across Scotland as the country braces itself for thunderstorms (PA)

Another yellow weather warning has been in place for the majority of Scotland from midnight on Wednesday to 6am on Thursday.

Forecasters say that around 120mm of rain could fall in some locations. The Met Office average July rainfall total for Scotland at 83.55.

The Met Office forecast reads: "Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across Scotland during Tuesday afternoon, lasting well into the evening in some places.

"This may cause localised flooding, especially if such totals occur over urban areas. Lightning and hail will pose additional hazards.

Scots baked in almost 30C heat last week (DAILY RECORD)

"Outbreaks of rain will spread across Scotland from the southwest during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

"This will become slow moving across the warning area through Wednesday, with heavy and persistent periods of rain leading to accumulations of 100-120 mm in some locations.

"The rain will ease on Wednesday night before clearing southward on Thursday morning."

It will be a rapid change to the incredible summer conditions that Scots experienced over the past two weeks.

Much of the country baked in scorching hot sunshine, with temperatures almost peaking at 30C in southwestern areas.

Scottish Water urged Scots to use water supply ‘efficiently’ while some areas were put on red alert for drought during the dry spell.