A HARBOUR in a Scottish town has been closed as police warned conditions pose a “serious risk to life” over fears waves could crash over the sea wall.
Emergency services have been called to reports of flooded properties on Stonehaven’s waterfront.
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Aberdeenshire Council said it was closing the area around the town’s harbour on police advice due to the risk from “overtopping waves”.
Areas along the seafront were already affected by coastal flooding overnight.
Pictures of seaweed and driftwood strewn along streets where bins lay on their sides were posted on social media.
It comes as a yellow weather alert was in force for northern Scotland until 3pm today which covered most of Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands.
According to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) there are still 12 flood alerts and six warnings across the country.
They issued a flood warning for Stonehaven and said that flooding was expected from around the time of high tide which was at 1pm on Saturday.
The Coastguard said teams have been called to assist the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) with reports of flooding at properties on the waterfront.
Police have advised people to avoid the area.
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In a statement posted on social media earlier on Saturday afternoon, Police Scotland said: “Members of the public are advised not to enter the piers or attend at Stonehaven Harbour breakwater.
“Strong winds, surges and an imminent high tide mean that there is a serious risk to life.
“Access to the harbour is limited, with waves breaking over the sea wall at Shorehead.”
The Coastguard said teams from Aberdeen and Stonehaven have gone attended while SFRS has also been called out.
The Sepa flood warning sated: “A combination of high tides and prevailing weather conditions means that flooding from the sea is expected to affect low lying land, roads and properties along the coast in Stonehaven. Wave overtopping is expected around Cowie Promenade.
“Flooding impacts are expected around the time of high tide on Saturday February 10 at around 1pm.”
It’s not the first time the town has been battered by extreme weather.
During Storm Babet, 20ft high waves crash against buildings amid huge swells in the North Sea.
And boats moored in the fishing town’s harbour were buffeted as powerful waves lashed the northeast coastline.
