Civil Protection of the Generalitat has elevated the INUNCAT plan to EMERGENCY phase this midday following forecasts from the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (SMC) of exceptional rainfall levels in the coming hours and until Sunday. These rains may be accompanied by strong winds and possible severe weather phenomena such as waterspouts and tornadoes.
The situation is expected to worsen from this evening, through the early morning, and until Sunday midday. Consequently, several restrictions have been established between 8 PM today and 2 PM on Sunday in the counties of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, Alt Penedès, Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès, Garraf, Garrotxa, Gironès, Pla de l’Estany, Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, Maresme, Selva, Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Baix Penedès, Osona, Ripollès, Tarragonès, and Moianes.
Limitations include restricting non-essential travel, suspending activities in natural areas, parks, and urban gardens, as well as sports, cultural, leisure, and recreational activities, and outdoor markets and fairs. The use of teleworking is also encouraged wherever possible, and educational, university, and basic social services activities are suspended.
An ES-ALERT will be sent this afternoon to the 20 affected counties. In addition to these areas, rainfall may also be intense in other parts of Catalonia, urging extreme caution in mobility and outdoor activities, and avoiding crossing flood-prone areas, rivers, or streams. In case of emergency, call 112.
According to the SMC, the situation could worsen from 8 PM today, particularly between Baix Camp and Maresme, with torrential rains potentially exceeding 40 l/m2 in 30 minutes. During the early morning, the probability of these phenomena is at its highest (6 out of 6), mainly affecting areas from Baix Camp to Selva. On Sunday morning, the rain is expected to move from south to north, ending in the Girona counties by the afternoon-evening. Showers will locally be accompanied by thunderstorms and severe weather phenomena.
In addition to the intensity warnings for 30 minutes, the SMC has also issued warnings for over 90 l/m2 in 3 hours and over 200 liters in 24 hours, which could accumulate even in 6 hours, primarily in the coastal, pre-coastal, and Girona counties.
