Catalonia faces this Tuesday an episode of extreme rains that has forced the activation of extraordinary prevention measures and is causing disruptions in transportation. The AEMET maintains the red warning for torrential rainfall in various points of the territory, while Civil Protection has activated the INUNCAT plan and has sent alerts to the mobile phones of the population.
The forecast includes accumulations of up to 180 liters per square meter in 12 hours, with the possibility that this amount concentrates in just between three and six hours. In addition to the rain, the episode may be accompanied by storms, hail, and strong gusts of wind. The period of greatest risk is concentrated during the morning, although instability remains throughout much of the day.
Red alert and warning to 14 regions
Civil Protection activated the INUNCAT plan due to the forecast of locally intense rains and sent an ES-Alert message to 14 regions of the Catalan coast and pre-coast. The warning urged to take extreme precautions, reduce travel, and avoid areas that may flood, especially riverbeds, streams, and torrents.
Among the areas initially included in the device are regions such as La Selva, Maresme, Vallès Oriental, Vallès Occidental, Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Garraf, Alt Penedès, Conca de Barberà, Baix Camp, Alt Camp, Baix Penedès, and Tarragonès. The evolution of the rainfall has also forced the maintenance of special vigilance over other areas due to the movement of the storms.
The episode has advanced from Tarragona towards Barcelona. In points of the Barcelona province, especially intense accumulations have been recorded, with up to 100 liters per square meter in one hour. The Catalan Water Agency also maintains warnings for the increase in the flows of various rivers.
Renfe suspends trains and Rodalies limits speed
The meteorological situation has also disrupted rail transport. Renfe suspended certain high-speed and Medium Distance services operating in Catalonia between 9:00 and 11:00 hours as a preventive measure due to the red warning.
The measure affects services such as AVE, Avant, Euromed, and Medium Distance, with repercussions on the rail connections that have origin, destination, or pass through the affected areas. Renfe has been adapting the circulation to the evolution of the meteorological and safety conditions.
In the Rodalies network, restrictions have also been applied. The lines R2 Sud, R2 Nord, R3, R4, and R8 register speed limitations linked to the episode of rains. These restrictions may cause delays and modifications in the usual travel times.
The situation also affects other railway services in Catalonia and has generated incidents at stations and metropolitan connections. Operators recommend checking the service status before starting the journey.
Precaution on the roads due to possible flooding
The Catalan Traffic Service has requested to exercise extreme caution on the road network due to the possibility of water accumulating quickly on the roadway. Among the routes indicated by the follow-up information of the episode are A-2, AP-7, and C-15, although the situation may change as the precipitation front advances.
The authorities' recommendation is to avoid non-essential travel and not to access underpasses, streams, or flood-prone areas when there is water accumulation. A road that is initially open may be affected in a short time if torrential rains or sudden rises occur.
For the moment, the consulted sources do not allow for establishing a closed list of roads completely cut off due to the storm. Road incidents must be followed in real-time because they can change during the day depending on the intensity of the rains and the evolution of the waterways.
Barcelona activates its emergency plan
The Barcelona City Council has activated its Municipal Emergency Plan due to the risk that the rains may cause drainage problems. The council has requested caution in travel and special attention to points susceptible to water accumulation.
The risk is not limited to the major communication routes. Civil Protection maintains the recommendation to stay away from rivers, streams, and torrents and not to park vehicles in potentially floodable areas. The intensity of these episodes can cause the water level to rise in a few minutes.
The evolution of the alert will depend on how the storms move during the next few hours. The forecast points to a progressive extension of the precipitation across different points of the coast and pre-coast, which is why the authorities keep the emergency devices active and ask to follow the indications of Civil Protection, Trànsit, and the transport operators.