The heavy rain is dispersing, but more showers are expected during the afternoon.

Since the early hours of the morning, a rain front has swept across the entire country from west to east. These downpours have often been accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, causing numerous disruptions. Although the rain moved very quickly, it has still deposited significant amounts, exceeding 50 liters per square meter in a short period in some areas. The storms were concentrated in the northeast by mid-morning, where the front eventually moved on. However, the formation of a small low-pressure system off the Catalan coast is maintaining some scattered showers throughout the afternoon in the northern half of the country, which will continue into the evening.

So far, the most significant rainfall totals have been recorded in Castellcir (Moianès), followed by Caldes de Montbui (Vallès Oriental) with 86 l/m², Sabadell with 77 l/m², Cerdanyola del Vallés (Vallès Occidental) with 65 l/m², and Rasquera with 75 l/m² and 6 l/m² in just half an hour. These are particularly heavy accumulations, especially in pre-coastal areas, but also in the northeast, where rainfall has exceeded 40 l/m². One of the hardest-hit municipalities in the Girona region has been Sant Hilari Sacalm (Selva), where flooding has occurred. However, most rainfall totals have ranged between 15 and 30 l/m² across much of the country. All of this is due to the passage of an active cold front. The peak of the storm coincided in many cases with the start of the school and workdays, causing significant traffic disruptions. Civil Protection activated the Inuncat flood plan at its alert level until lunchtime, and last night sent ES-Alert messages to most districts urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise extreme caution during the early hours and this morning. The 112 emergency hotline received nearly a thousand calls, and the Fire Department responded to more than 370 incidents related to the storm, mostly flooding, fallen trees, and lightning strikes. The Vallès Occidental region was the hardest hit, particularly the co-capital city of Sabadell, where the downpour led to the closure of municipal facilities, widespread flooding, and the closure of some streets. Gran Via, one of the city's main thoroughfares, has suffered flooding in four underpasses, where some vehicles have become trapped. In addition, a section of the sewer wall on Costa i Deu Street collapsed, damaging a gas pipe.

Given this situation, and after the storm alert was sent to mobile phones last night, the government was calling this morning to urge people to take extra precautions. "If it's raining heavily when you go out, don't go out," advised Interior Minister Núria Parlon early this morning on Catalunya Ràdio. She extended this recommendation to include taking children to school, although she ruled out a general suspension of classes. "If it's raining heavily, don't take the children to school; if it's not raining heavily, take them, because it's a safe place," she said. As predicted, the rain front passed quickly, and by mid-morning it was no longer raining in most areas, except for those in the northeast. Recent downpours have caused a sudden increase in the flow of many rivers and streams, forcing the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) to temporarily activate the hydrological alert in some areas, such as Vallès Occidental.

The R4 commuter rail line was closed this morning between Sabadell and Terrassa due to the storm. Additionally, the R15 train line was interrupted between Móra and Ascó due to a wall collapsing onto the tracks. Renfe provided alternative bus service in both cases, but train service was restored throughout the day. Meanwhile, adverse weather conditions around Vinaixa, in Les Garrigues, forced the closure of the R13 and R14 lines between Lleida and the Milans River due to a loss of power to the overhead lines, an incident that was also resolved after a few hours. In this case, a bus service was also provided between Lleida and Tarragona during the closure. Civil Protection had to temporarily activate the Ferrocat plan alert due to these incidents this morning.

This change in weather also brings the first significant snowfall of the season to the high Pyrenees, where between 10 and 25 cm of new snow could accumulate throughout the day, especially above 2,000 m. However, this morning snowfall was observed down to 1,600 or 1,700 m in the Alt Pirineu and Andorra.

Afternoon with lingering instability

This Thursday afternoon, a lot of cold air will remain aloft, bringing instability and more scattered showers and thunderstorms to parts of the Girona region, northern Barcelona, ​​the Pyrenees, and the Pre-Pyrenees. Elsewhere in the country, skies will be more changeable and dry, although a few isolated showers or thunderstorms are possible. This will all be accompanied by the arrival of the mistral and tramontana winds in central and southern Spain, the Empordà region, and the Pyrenean peaks.

Some showers will also persist in the Balearic Islands, mainly between Mallorca and Menorca, after this morning's front of showers and thunderstorms brought downpours with strong winds and some minor incidents. Temperatures will drop, with a distinctly autumnal feel throughout. Many highs will range between 15 and 20°C, but will be significantly lower in mountainous areas and the northern interior. In the higher elevations of the Pyrenees, temperatures will remain below 0°C all day.

More water in sight

Friday will be a calmer day, with plenty of sunshine and only a few showers in the Pyrenees. Winds will blow in the far reaches of the country, and temperatures will remain moderate. The weather maps still indicate that from Friday night through Saturday morning, a new line of weaker and more scattered precipitation will cross the region, bringing more snow to the Pyrenees. This is still uncertain and will need to be confirmed.