THE number of flood warnings issued in Scotland rose to its second highest level on record in 2024, according to new data.

Using Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) figures released under freedom of information, environmental group Round Our Way found that the agency had issued three severe flood warnings, 521 flood warnings and 346 alerts last year.

The 870 tally is second only to the 966 issued in 2020.

Meteorologist Gemma Plumb warned: “Climate change is making our weather more extreme and this is having a real impact on people’s lives.

“Across Scotland and the UK as a whole we have already seen climate change bring more intense rainfall and this brings the greater risk of flooding.”

Round Our Way co-director Sofie Jenkinson said: “We need to see increased preparedness in Scotland and across the UK for extreme weather events including crucial maintenance of the drain network but we also need urgent action to tackle the causes of increased heavy rain, which will continue to wreak havoc in our communities.”