Scotland's weather: Thunderstorms disrupt Edinburgh Airport flights and flood roads
Air traffic control reduces aircraft movements for safety
Severe thunderstorms were disrupting flights at Scotland’s busiest airport on Friday as downpours flooded motorways.
The delays came as a yellow extreme weather warning in force for almost the entire country was extended into Saturday.
Edinburgh Airport warned of likely knock-on disruption for the rest of the day after air traffic controllers reduced the rate at which aircraft took off and landed, for safety.
It coincided with the start of one its busiest weekends of the year for Scottish air travel with families heading off on holiday after schools finish for the summer break.
An Edinburgh Airport spokesperson said: “Air traffic services at Edinburgh Airport are experiencing disruption due to severe thunderstorms in the local and surrounding airspace.
“To manage this safely, Nats [the former National Air Traffic Services], the UK’s air traffic management provider, has implemented flow rate restrictions.
“We are working closely with our local air traffic control provider ANSL [ Air Navigation Solutions Limited] , Nats, airlines and other partners to minimise disruption and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
“It is likely this will have knock-on impacts throughout the day and passengers are advised to contact their airline for the latest travel information.”
British Airways said: “Due to the potential of delays, we are advising customers that their flights may be running late, but to arrive at the airport at the normal time.”
A Nats spokesperson said: “Thunder and lightning storms across large parts of the UK are impacting operations in Scottish airspace and airports.
“To ensure safety, we’ve reduced the rate of flights in affected areas, including into Edinburgh Airport, leading to some disruption.
“Passengers should check with their airline for the latest information.”
Traffic Scotland, the official roads information service, said heavy rain had caused flooding on parts of the trunk road network.
Stretches affected included the M8 eastbound at junction four at Whitburn in West Lothian and the M90 in both directions at junction two at Masterton, just north of the Queensferry Crossing in Fife.
Flooding also closed the slip road off the M90 southbound at junction one - Admiralty - just south of Masterton.
A Met Office yellow thunderstorm warning, which came into force at midnight for the whole of Scotland apart from Shetland, has been extended from midnight to 3am on Saturday.
It said: “Spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms initially over north west Scotland are likely to become more widespread during Friday morning.
“Further thunderstorms and spells of heavy rain are possible in the afternoon before becoming confined to more northern areas of Scotland later in the day.
“Rainfall amounts will be highly variable but narrow corridors of 20-30mm falling in one hour and potentially 30-50mm in three hours is possible.
“Frequent lightning, large hail of 2-4cm diameter and locally gusty winds with stronger storms.”
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