Were the floods predicted? Flooding is hard to predict and flash flooding is almost impossible as it is the intensity of the rain that causes the floods. In Scotland different organisations work together to forecast the weather and the effects the weather may have. The Met Office issued weather warnings stating that there would be heavy rain and even some localised flooding. The floods were not predicted by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) as they were caused by storms causing flash floods. Until this time the rainfall had been normal so the rivers and burns SEPA were monitoring gave no indication of an increased water level until it was too late. SEPA Provide a Flood Watch service - giving general alerts for the whole of Scotland by: collating data on river levels and rainfall around the country. interpreting weather forecast information from the Meteorological Office. monitoring tidal and storm surge predictions. take account of local reports. Operate a Floodline giving people all over Scotland information on the possible risk of flooding. Provide a website that gives advance notice of possible flooding. This is known as Flood Watch. Met Office Interpret the weather from Satellite images and data. Provide the National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) warns the community by providing warning of severe or hazardous weather which could cause problems, ranging from widespread disruption of communications to conditions resulting in transport difficulties or threatening lives. Provide a Weather Watch issued by the Met Office to the public and emergency authorities if there is a risk of severe weather but the likelihood of occurrence is not great enough for the issue of any of the above warnings. If this likelihood increases, the Weather Watch may be followed by an Early Warning, Flash Warning or Motoring Warning as appropriate. Are not responsible for predicting floods but they pass on warnings of heavy rain to SEPA, Local Authorities, Utilities and Media.