Glasgow hit by floods just days before city hosts COP26 – with warning of more heavy rain to come

Glasgow has been hit by flooding just days before the city hosts the crucial climate change summit COP26.

Footage and pictures on social media shows cars driving through flood water in some streets as heavy rain lashes the city and causes disruption to transport.

Some Glasgow residents have tweeted that several roads including Maryhill Road, Byres Road and Duke Street are submerged in water and some vehicles are stuck.

Meanwhile, dozens of train services have been cancelled or are facing delays in Glasgow and southwest Scotland.

The Glasgow light show at the Botanic Gardens has also been cancelled tonight.

In a statement on Twitter, organisers said the entrance to the site had been “overwhelmed” and that “half a foot of water is blocking the entrance and road”.

Rangers fans also faced warnings that roads surrounding the Ibrox stadium for Wednesday night’s game against Aberdeen have been affected by flooding.

Supporters liaison officer Greg Marshall tweeted: “A number of roads around the stadium footprint have been severely impacted by flooding.”

More treacherous conditions are forecast ahead of COP26’s opening on Sunday.

Wednesday’s flooding comes after the Met Office warned of life-threatening flooding as it issued amber weather warnings for rain in northwest England and southwest Scotland.

Dumfries and Galloway in southwest Scotland are also being battered by downpours, lasting until 9am on Thursday.

The Met Office said there could be a “danger to life from fast-flowing or deep floodwater”.

The amber alerts also warn of potential damage to homes and businesses from flooding, dangerous driving conditions and travel disruption.

Cumbria is also being lashed with “persistent and heavy rain”, which is not likely to ease until Thursday night, the service said.

Up to 300mm is expected to fall in parts of the region, which typically sees an average of 160mm in October.

“In a 24-hour period you could see a month’s worth of rain,” Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said, describing the weather as “notable”.

“The rainfall total is much higher than the average rainfall for this time of year, definitely, and in general, for any time of year it’s a lot of rainfall in a short period of time,” she said.

Communities could be cut off by flooded roads and face power cuts, according to the service.