Terres de l'Ebre and Valencia are on alert for heavy rains expected this afternoon.

The forecast for heavy rains this Sunday afternoon in southern Catalonia has prompted Civil Protection to send an alert to mobile phones in the regions of Montsià, Baix Ebre, and Terra Alta this afternoon. The message warns of the forecast of torrential rains from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. Extreme caution is urged, and unnecessary travel and outdoor activities are avoided.

The Valencian Country is also on alert due to the forecast of heavy rains, where alerts were sent to mobile phones in towns on the northern coast of Castellón and the coast of the province of Valencia early this afternoon.

In Catalonia, Civil Protection has also activated the Inuncat plan alert and urged people not to approach or cross rivers, torrents, streams and ravines, and not to go down to basements, but rather to go up to upper floors if water is entering the home.

The mobile phone alert was sent after the Catalan Meteorological Service raised the danger level for rainfall intensity to very high (5 out of 6) this morning in the Baix Ebre and Montsià regions between 6 p.m. and midnight. They warn that 40 liters per square meter could be recorded in 30 minutes in the far west of Catalonia and the Ebro.

At the same time, a rainfall accumulation warning is in effect, with a level of danger of 4 out of 6. 200 liters could accumulate in 24 hours, between 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and 2:00 p.m. on Monday in the Baix Ebre, Montsià, and, to a lesser extent, in the Terra Alta. In addition, showers may be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail or small stones.

Classes suspended in Valencia

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has also activated the red alert level (extreme risk) and warned of "extraordinary danger in the provinces of Tarragona, Castellón, and Valencia during Sunday afternoon and evening and Monday." Aemet has also warned that in several regions of the Valencian Community, accumulations of more than 150 liters per square meter could occur throughout Monday morning, and that flooding and flash flooding in riverbeds is possible.

Given these forecasts, Valencia City Council has suspended classes in schools located in flood-prone areas of the city and in the districts affected by the DANA (High Water Dam) almost a year ago. The council has also decided to close parks, gardens, and cemeteries this Monday, suspending outdoor sports activities, while recommending that the rest of the city's schools move their planned outdoor activities indoors.