The Government will send two ES-Alerts for the heavy rains in nine regions: one at noon and another at night

BarcelonaTorrential rains are returning and Catalonia is preparing for 24 intense hours, especially in Garraf, Penedès, Camp de Tarragona, and the Ebre. The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has activated danger level 5 out of 6 for rainfall due to downpours that may exceed 40 liters per square meter in just half an hour on the coast and accumulations of up to 200 liters in the south of the country in a single day. In addition, at noon, danger level 6 out of 6 was activated in Baix Penedès and Tarragonès until 3 p.m.

Given the risk posed by flash floods that can be caused by downpours and associated atmospheric phenomena, such as strong wind gusts, the Government will send two ES-Alerts to the most affected regions so that citizens take extreme precautions: the first to Garraf, Alt Penedès, Baix Penedès, Alt Camp, Baix Camp, and Tarragonès, to warn of intense rain from noon and throughout the afternoon; and the second to Terra Alta, Baix Ebre, and Montsià, where the forecast is for the afternoon, evening, and all night.

In a media briefing, the head of Prediction at Meteocat, Santi Segalà, warned that the storms may be accompanied by violent weather phenomena, such as tornadoes, waterspouts, or strong wind gusts.

For her part, the deputy director of Civil Protection, Imma Solé, explained that all municipalities and agencies will be informed about this new alert situation for rain, which she insisted is "very general" in scope, although with different levels of danger.

Specifically, the red danger warning begins at 12 p.m. in the regions of southern Barcelona and Tarragona. From 6 p.m., the alert will move towards Baix Ebre, Montsià, and Terra Alta, and from midnight until 6 a.m., it is expected that the rains will remain stagnant in Baix Ebre and Montsià. In the Ebre, therefore, the storm is expected to last up to 18 hours.

The Valencian Community on red alert

Furthermore, it should be taken into account that the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has raised the warning for rain to red starting at 6 p.m. for the coast and the northern interior of Castellón and the coast of Valencia, given the forecast that 90 liters per square meter could accumulate in one hour and up to 250 liters in 12 hours.

At 10 a.m. the Generalitat Valenciana sent an Es-Alert requesting that people avoid travel and stay away from ravines and riverbeds. Additionally, in the Valencian Community, fifty municipalities have suspended classes this morning and more are expected to join throughout the coming hours due to the increase in rainfall.