Drenched emergency crews face callouts across Scotland tonight as rising floodwaters saw torrential rain combine with a tidal surge.

Nearly 40 flood warnings loom for towns and cities the length of the country in the wake of dire weather forecasts from Dumfries and Galloway to the Isle of Skye.

Those worst hit on the west coast today included Ardrossan in North Ayrshire and Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, with waves crashing over esplanades and roads submerged in water.

But experts said the worst coastal conditions were yet to come. Emergency services and response teams were counting down the minutes as the Morning Star went to press, with high tide expected at around 7pm last night.

The Scottish Flood Forum's operations director Paul Hendy said late yesterday afternoon that they were literally in the calm before the storm.

"At the moment we're basically waiting, watching and just getting the message out.

"It's quite a worrying time.

"For those who've had it happen before it can be quite a triggering situation - but the inevitable may not always be as bad as we fear."

Mr Hendy urged residents to take warnings seriously, prepare emergency kits and even improvise sandbags out of earth and pillowcases if necessary.

"A few sandbags at this stage can be a good precaution and emergency services will get more stretched as time goes on."

For flood warnings in Scotland, contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or visit sepa.org.uk.

For further support and advice, call the Scottish Flood Forum on 01698 839 021.