The downpours begin to hit the Terres de l'Ebre

BarcelonaTorrential rains are returning and Catalonia is preparing for an intense early morning, especially in the south of the country. Around 11 p.m., downpours with storms reactivated in the Baix Ebre and Montsià regions. In fact, there are about 4,300 users without electricity supply in Baix Ebre. In just one hour, the Fire Department has registered around twenty notices for flooding, most of them in Tortosa, where images of streets flooded by water are already beginning to be seen.

Although this Wednesday morning it was expected that the worst scenario of downpours would be in the afternoon, the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) finally moved this maximum red alert, with a danger level of 5 out of 6, to start from midnight. The epicenter is expected to be in the Terres de l'Ebre, where precipitation could leave downpours exceeding 40 liters per square meter in just half an hour. In fact, Civil Protection has sent three ES-Alerts in one day, the first in Tarragona at noon, the second in the Ebre in the afternoon, and, finally, a last one in the evening warning that the rains would continue until this Friday. The latest alert was in the regions of Montsià, Baix Ebre, Ribera d'Ebre, and Baix Camp.

The Minister of Interior and Public Security, Núria Parlon, has asked the public for "maximum caution and prudence" in the face of this episode and to remain "attentive" to the alerts. She said this in an appearance from the CECAT (Operational Coordination Center of Catalonia), which will be active all night monitoring the downpours. During the day, before 10 p.m., the Generalitat Fire Department handled about fifty reports due to the rains across the country and the 112 emergency service received 140 calls, none of them with a notable incident, according to Imma Solé, deputy director of Civil Protection.

In parallel, one person had to be taken to a hospital center this Thursday following the rain episode. According to Civil Protection, the person had injuries of a less serious nature. The Government also indicates that the Medical Emergency System (SEM) has received thirteen alerts with a total of twelve people affected.

First cancellations

Furthermore, in view of the forecast that heavy downpours will continue this Friday in the south of the country, up to nine municipalities in the Montsià and Baix Ebre regions have suspended classes. Specifically, there will be no school in all towns in the Montsià region – Alcanar, Amposta, Freginals, la Ràpita, Mas de Barberans, Masdenverge, Santa Bàrbara – and in Deltebre and Tortosa. In these areas, municipal facilities and spaces have also been closed as a preventive measure.

In fact, the first significant rainfall records have already arrived: the storm has left up to 80 liters of water per square meter on the island of Buda, in the Ebro Delta, 68 liters in Bisbal del Penedès (Baix Penedès), and 56 in Blancafort (Conca de Barberà). The director of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia, Sarai Sarroca, explained that after a few hours of more local and scattered precipitation, the situation will intensify again starting from midnight or two in the morning. Speaking to the media, the head of forecasting at Meteocat, Santi Segalà, warned that the storms may be accompanied by violent weather phenomena, such as tornadoes, waterspouts, or strong gusts of wind.

Suspensions also at Renfe

The heavy rains are once again affecting mobility. Renfe has already announced that it is suspending several long-distance trains on the Mediterranean corridor starting at 6 p.m. this Thursday due to the forecast of heavy rain between Catalonia and Valencia. Specifically, the Alvia from Cordoba to Barcelona arriving at 8:51 p.m. at Sants will be terminated in Valencia, while three Euromed and one Intercity train between the two autonomous communities have been suspended. In addition, the Avant Express departing from Barcelona Sants at 5:50 p.m. bound for Tortosa will end its journey at Camp de Tarragona. Tomorrow's departure of the Avant Express will take place from that station at 7:12 a.m. instead of departing from Tortosa.

Also, starting at 6 p.m., two regional trains may have part of their route suspended due to the storm. These are the trains on the R16 line of Rodalies de Catalunya departing from Barcelona Estació de França bound for Tortosa at 7:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Depending on weather conditions, both trains may end their journey in Tarragona.

The Valencian Community, on red alert

The Valencian Country is also being a victim of the heavy downpours. The rains that have fallen so far in Castelló have left accumulations of more than 100 l/m2 and have led the Valencian Generalitat to send three ES-Alerts. The coming hours, however, are also forecast to be complicated.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has raised the weather 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. In addition, fifty municipalities have suspended classes this morning, including some of the towns most affected by the DANA two years ago, and more are expected to join in the coming hours as the rains increase.