We've just left behind an exceptionally rainy winter. It had been thirty years since we'd had such a wet winter, and it even ranks among the four wettest winters on record. This situation has filled reservoirs to capacity – the inland basins are at 92% – and saturated forests and rivers across the country. After this historic period, the astronomical spring is now upon us. The spring equinox will occur this Friday at 3:46 PM. We must remember that this is one of the rainiest seasons of the year in our country. Therefore, the question arises: after the abundant rainfall during the winter, will it continue to rain so much this spring?

Throughout March, the start of pollination in trees like the plane tree, willow, and elm typically heralds the arrival of spring. However, this also marks a critical time for allergy sufferers, who must begin taking precautions to minimize pollen-induced symptoms. This year, the low temperatures that have characterized the beginning of the year have meant that winter pollens—from cypress, ash, and hazel—didn't release pollen until the end of February—somewhat later than usual—but, conversely, historical averages have been exceeded since the beginning of the year. Combined with a forecast of warm and rainy weather for March, it seemed that allergy sufferers would have an easier time coping with spring this year, as rainfall causes much of the tree pollen to fall to the ground, thus concentrating it in the air. However, the rainfall has fueled the plants, causing them to bloom more intensely, and the pollen levels released by herbaceous plants and olive trees will last longer than usual, complicating daily life for allergy sufferers. This is the spring pollen forecast from the Aerobiological Network of Catalonia (XAC), published this Tuesday by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (ICTA-UAB). Its aim is to provide preventative care for people with pollen-related conditions. "Although all this rain may have washed a lot of pollen onto the ground, it has also resulted in very strong trees that will produce abundant flowers because they will be well-watered," explained botanist and head of the XAC, Jordina Belmonte. Therefore, they recommend that allergy sufferers protect themselves, even with masks and goggles. This forecast may change depending on the weather.

According to Belmonte, the risk of allergies could decrease if the heavy rainfall that has been occurring since the beginning of the year continues. "This would help clear the air and allow pollen to fall as it has been," noted the ICTA-UAB researcher. Meteorologists predict that March will be rainier than usual, she added, a situation that could also lead to higher than normal temperatures and shorten the pollination period for herbaceous plants. More episodes of strong winds from pollen-free areas would spread the high concentrations expected in Catalonia. Regarding the types of pollen that are increasing most significantly, cypress, plane tree, olive, and ash pollen stand out. However, Belmonte emphasized that this varies depending on the location, since "not all pollens behave the same way everywhere." "We need to debunk the myth that there is more and more pollen in the air, since there are places where there is less and less," he explains.

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The extraordinary rainfall of recent months has filled most of Catalonia's reservoirs to their maximum capacity. The latest to reach full capacity is the Guiamets reservoir in the Priorat region. This is newsworthy because it's only the second time it has reached 100% capacity since 1978, when official records began. The first time was in May 2004, 22 years ago. This is confirmed by data from the Ebro River Basin Authority (CHE) provided to ARA by the Baix Priorat irrigation community. It's worth noting that at the beginning of December, this reservoir was only at 4% capacity, and for much of the autumn it remained at 1%. Therefore, it has gone from being empty to overflowing in just three months.

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Last week's anticyclone was a mirage. After an exceptionally rainy winter, this first week of March, and of meteorological spring, has brought another turn for the worse, and a severe one at that. A pocket of cold air located between the south of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa has generated a new low-pressure system, named... Regina by the Portuguese meteorological agency. Initially, it will affect the Canary Islands and the Gulf of Cádiz area, and in our region, for the time being, it will bring clouds, a lot of suspended dust, some showers or drizzles accompanied by mud, maritime winds, and rough seas.

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The rainfall in the western Mediterranean during the first two months of this year has been a third more torrential compared to the period before the planet warmed by 1.3°C. This is the conclusion of a report published this Thursday by the international group of scientists from World Weather Attribution (WWA), which analyzed the exceptional rainfall at the beginning of 2026 in northwest and southeast Spain, southern and northern Portugal, and northern Morocco. Specifically, the report concludes that in the southern regions, the increase in rainfall intensity has been 36%, while in the northern regions it has been 29%. Experts highlight the "unusual number" of storms and low-pressure systems that have affected the entire Iberian Peninsula and northern Morocco during January and February, winter months that are typically dry in Spain. In this period alone, nine major storms have already hit, an extraordinary number. The study attributes this increase in extreme weather events to human activity, specifically carbon dioxide emissions. Experts combined observed increases with climate model simulations, and the results demonstrate that human activity is the direct cause of at least an 11% increase in rainfall intensity in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. "Weather patterns that were once more adaptable are now becoming more dangerous disasters, and that is exactly what climate change means, with increasingly intense and severe rainfall," explains David García García, one of the study's authors and a professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Aerospace Engineering. The epicenter of the extraordinary rainfall of 2026 was the municipality of Grazalema, in Cádiz, where in just a few days the amount of rain that usually accumulates over an entire year fell, exceeding 2,000 liters per square meter and causing widespread damage. In addition to the exceptional and intense rainfall, the report also highlights the episodes of hurricane-force winds that the Iberian Peninsula has experienced in recent weeks. This highly unstable weather pattern, according to the same study, has resulted from several factors. One of them has been the presence of high pressure systems—anticyclones—over northern Europe, causing an atmospheric blocking pattern that has diverted the jet stream and the usual circulation of storms towards lower latitudes. But it's noteworthy that this series of storms has been "supercharged" by atmospheric currents that have brought significant moisture from a major marine heatwave in the western Atlantic. This combination, a consequence of global warming, has intensified rainfall events in our country.

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Storms and heavy rain continue to batter the Iberian Peninsula this winter, and this week Andalusia is the epicenter of the storms. Provinces like Seville, Cádiz, and Córdoba are the hardest hit by the abundant rainfall caused by Storm [name missing]. Leonardowith exceptional rainfall totals. The worst affected area was the municipality of Grazalema, in Cádiz, where almost 600 liters per square meter fell in just 24 hours on Wednesday. This record figure for the area is very similar to the rainfall recorded during the historic and tragic DANA storm of October 2014 in Valencia. And all that water is also having consequences for the subsoil. Grazalema is located at an altitude of over 800 meters in the Sierra de Cádiz mountains, a geographically exposed area that is very rainy and receives nearly 2,000 liters per square meter annually. The problem is that this amount of rain, which usually falls over an entire year, has already been exceeded between January and the first days of February. This exceptional rainfall has completely saturated the subsoil. The ground can no longer absorb any more water, which is gushing out uncontrollably everywhere, even through electrical outlets, toilets, and walls of houses. And a phenomenon little known until now has occurred: hydroseisms.

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This winter's rains and snowfalls have been extraordinary, with very significant amounts and some records that have increased water reserves in the inland basins. above 90%In the last month alone, we've already been hit by six major storms, with varying degrees of impact on our country. The latest one, this week, was... LeonardoThe official list of names for storms in southwestern Europe is already halfway through the season. And to make matters worse, this is happening during what is usually one of the driest seasons of the year. Catalonia hasn't experienced such a rainy winter in thirty years, and February is still to come. Only the winters between 1995 and 1997 and some in the 1970s recorded similar figures.

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The heavens have opened, and now there's no way to turn them off. Since March of last year, rain has been pouring down in Catalonia, and this winter has been exceptionally rainy, with continuous and abundant downpours that offer no respite. This is an unusual situation, as this time of year is typically dry in our country. All of this has pushed the reservoirs in the internal basins above 92% of their capacity, practically full.

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The abundant and continuous rains of recent weeks have saturated the ground. This situation was unthinkable just a year ago, when Catalonia was still suffering the effects of a historic drought. We have gone from one extreme to the other in a matter of months, and, as is often the case, excesses are never good. Although it may seem unbelievable, so much water is also not good for some trees, as they can fall more easily if a storm with strong winds arrives with gusts of more than 80 or 100 km/h.

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The leading hypothesis for the Gelida train accident is that the wall the train crashed into gave way due to the relentless rain of the last five days. In this municipality of the Alt Penedès region, it is estimated that nearly 90 liters per square meter have accumulated since last Friday; this is by no means an exceptional amount of rain, although it is surprising given that it occurred in January, a month that is usually quite dry in Spain. But it's raining on already saturated ground, and five consecutive days of rain have further dampened an area that is becoming very waterlogged. In fact, it hasn't stopped raining since mid-December, and more than 200 liters per square meter have already fallen in the Gelida area, nearly a third of the average annual rainfall. "After so much continuous rain, there comes a point when the ground's capacity is exhausted and it becomes saturated, which alters the properties of the materials and can lead to problems like the ones we're seeing," explained Roberto Espínola, a member of the College of Geologists of Catalonia, in statements to ARA. Espínola emphasizes that clay soils like those found in Gelida are especially vulnerable to heavy and prolonged rainfall. "They have the capacity to absorb water into their structure; this causes them to swell and expand, but then they can expel the water, which produces instability in the ground, with possible cracks, landslides, or rockfalls," Espínola asserts. "There are abundant clay materials in the Gelida area."

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The AP-7 motorway between Martorell and Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, southbound, will be closed for "a few days" due to the risk of the retaining wall that collapsed onto the road. R4 train It could end up giving way completely. Early this morning, the Catalan Traffic Service (Servei Català de Trànsit) had already closed 1.5 kilometers of the right lane towards Tarragona as a precaution, but due to the instability of the terrain, the closure was extended to all three lanes on this road that crosses Catalonia from north to south. However, the measure has had consequences for the mobility of many users. Specifically, the A-2, the road to which much of the traffic that usually uses the AP-7 is being redirected, has accumulated up to 18 kilometers of traffic jams between Cornellà de Llobregat and Martorell in the direction of Barcelona due to the closure, according to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT).

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2026 has started strong in terms of weather, and the coming days will be no exception. After a few calm and pleasant days, the situation will become quite complicated again towards the end of the week. The arrival of a mass of cold air of polar origin associated with an Atlantic low-pressure system and the formation of a new low-pressure system in our Mediterranean region will cause significant instability starting on Friday. We can expect gray and rainy days, and this episode could last until Tuesday. The weather maps even suggest a sudden increase in wind speed or a herring storm at the beginning of next week. This storm could bring significant amounts of rain to some areas, another significant snowfall in the mid and high elevations of the Pyrenees, strong winds, and rough seas. Meteocat has already issued a weather warning for Sunday through Tuesday due to accumulations of more than 100 liters per square meter in just 24 hours along the coast, pre-coastal areas, and the eastern half of the country, as well as for rough seas, as announced on social media by the agency's director, Sarai Sarroca.

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The episode of rain and snow that has affected much of Catalonia between Christmas Day and this Monday has caused a significant increase in river flow and, as a direct consequence, in water reserves in reservoirs. The internal basins are at 83% of their capacity, while those belonging to the Ebro basin are at 72%. These figures leave the reservoirs in a very positive situation and far removed from the situation seen in previous years. the long drought, declared over half a year ago.

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Heavy rains continue to affect this year's festivities. For this reason, Civil Protection has asked people to avoid road travel and indicated that if travel is necessary, they should carry a small emergency kit. This was explained by Montse Font, head of the Emergency Management Service, who also warned that the persistent rainfall could cause increased river flows, especially in the Girona area, in rivers such as the Ter, the Fluvià, and the Muga, and their tributaries. Regarding the waves, she advised against approaching the coast, particularly in the north of the country, where waves could reach an average height of 4.5 meters. The Allucat plan alert has also been activated, with special attention being paid to the Central Pyrenees and the Vall d'Aran.

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Catalonia is kicking off a Christmas season that, for the first time in many years, will be quite eventful and decidedly wintry. After a brief respite on Wednesday, rain will once again spread across the region on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The days will be overcast and drenched, with potentially heavy accumulations in northeastern areas. Drivers should be cautious on the roads, as there will be a lot of traffic. And be aware of the snow level, as it will fluctuate considerably depending on the day and location, but in some southern and inland areas, snow is already falling down to 500 meters or even below. Therefore, some towns could experience the idyllic white Christmas landscape we're used to seeing in movies.

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The second day of the rain event brought more torrential downpours. This time, the worst of it hit the Barcelonès region, where rainfall intensified throughout the afternoon and evening, falling persistently and heavily, often accompanied by thunderstorms and some hail. The most affected municipalities are those in the northern part of the region, especially Badalona, ​​where some neighborhoods, such as Llefià, recorded more than 120 liters per square meter. Some unofficial weather stations recorded even higher amounts. Sant Adrià de Besòs was also significantly impacted by the downpours.

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The torrential and extreme rains that devastated the Valencian Community a year ago could be repeated much more often than previously thought: every 47 years, not every 500 as previously believed. This is the conclusion of a study by the Center for Land Policy and Valuation (CPSV) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), which was published to coincide with the first anniversary of the tragic storm. Led by professors Blanca Arellano and Josep Roca, the study is based on an analysis of data from 350 stations of the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) from 1950 to 2024. It has determined that the more than 700 liters per square meter accumulated in the Valencian Community "were not a unique, exceptional phenomenon," but rather an event with a "significant probability" of recurring. "The return period for the rainfall of October 29, 2024, falls far short of Aemet's initial forecasts, instead being reduced to 47 years," the study states. The figures indicate that even more extreme episodes, accumulating more than 1,600 l/m² in just 24 hours, could occur every 500 years. "Flood studies should be adjusted to this prediction," the report concludes. The data also indicate that torrential rains could occur every two to three years, and that rainfall exceeding 400 l/m² in a single day could happen every ten years. To prepare the study, the CPSV team mapped the extent of the rainfall and modeled the flood of October 29 of last year. They also analyzed the causes of the extreme rainfall in the Valencian Community.

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The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) announced on Monday that, from now on, The most intense and potentially dangerous DANAs (isolated depressions at high levels) would be given their own names., as is already the case with the most powerful storms. And the first one wasn't long in coming, as the agency announced the formation of DANA in the coming days. Alice.

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The abrupt change in weather over the past few days has brought temperatures down. We've suddenly gone from the warm and muggy atmosphere of last week to a late-October atmosphere, with cold mornings and cool to mild middays. In fact, temperatures are around four or five degrees below average. Autumn has arrived with a bang. And with this influx of cold, polar air, the snow level in the Pyrenees has also dropped sharply, with some areas already seeing the first snowfalls of the season.

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The storm of intense rainfall in Catalonia has caused the death of a child aged approximately 11 or 12 and the disappearance of his father in Sant Quintí de Mediona, in the Alt Penedès region, after the car they were traveling in was swept away by a stream. The child's body was found a few minutes before 10 p.m. in the Bitlles River, in Sant Pere de Riudebitlles. "Based on the evidence we have from the police investigation, it is the child's father," said the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, who appeared before the media from Sant Quintí de Mediona. Parlon explained that the man tried to cross a watery crossing despite warnings from neighbors not to do so: "They told him not to cross, but he did." The sudden rise in water swept away the car, which became stuck in a playground.

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