Renfe begins to suspend long-distance trains due to the forecast of rain

BarcelonaTorrential rains are returning and Catalonia is preparing for several intense hours, especially in Garraf, Penedès, Camp de Tarragona, and the Ebre. The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has activated level 5 out of 6 of danger for precipitation due to downpours that could 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. Furthermore, at noon, danger level 6 out of 6 was activated in Baix Penedès and Tarragonès until 3 PM. Since the morning, the Generalitat Fire Department has responded to 55 alerts.

Given the risk posed by sudden floods that can be caused by the 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 has been sent 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 will be sent to Terra Alta, Baix Ebre, and Montsià, where the forecast covers the afternoon, evening, and the entire night.

In fact, the first significant water records have already arrived: the storm has left up to 80 liters of water per square meter on the Illa de Buda, in the Ebre delta, 68 liters in Bisbal del Penedès (Baix Penedès), and 56 in Blancafort (Conca de Barberà).

First suspensions at Renfe

Renfe has already announced that it is suspending several long-distance trains on the Mediterranean corridor starting at six in the evening this Thursday due to the forecast of heavy rain between Catalonia and Valencia. Specifically, the Alvia from Cordoba to Barcelona with arrival at 20:51 at Sants will be terminated in Valencia, while three Euromed and one Intercity between the two autonomous communities have been suspended. Furthermore, the Avant Express departing from Barcelona Sants at 17:50 destined for Tortosa will end its journey at Camp de Tarragona. The departure of tomorrow's Avant Express will take place from that station at 7:12 instead of leaving from Tortosa.

Also, starting at 18:00, two regional trains may have their circulation suspended for part of the route due to the storm. These are the trains on the R16 line of Rodalies de Catalunya departing from Barcelona Estació de França and destined for Tortosa at 19:15 and 20:45. Depending on weather conditions, both trains may end their route in Tarragona.

Possible severe weather

In a press briefing, the head of Forecasting at Meteocat, Santi Segalà, has 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 of a "very general" scope, although with different levels of danger.

Specifically, the red danger warning begins at 12:00 PM in the counties of Tarragona and the south of Barcelona. From 6:00 PM, the alert will move towards Baix Ebre, Montsià, and Terra Alta, and from midnight until 6:00 AM, it is expected that the rains will remain stagnant in Baix Ebre and Montsià. In the Ebre region, therefore, the storm is expected to last for 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 rain warning 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 may 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 travel be avoided and that people stay away from ravines and riverbeds. Additionally, in the Valencian Country, fifty municipalities have suspended classes this morning, and more are expected to join throughout the coming hours given the increase in rainfall.