Warning for possible flooding and river overflows in Girona: 200 l/m² have already fallen
Rain will remain heavy and continuous, especially in the northeast, with very rough seas and snowfall in the eastern Pyrenees.
BarcelonaWe are experiencing the peak of the easterly storm, with the storm approaching closest. Harry in our house. The situation was already worsening yesterday, and since early this morning and throughout the morning, the rains have spread and are sweeping across the entire country. The most continuous and abundant rainfall is concentrated in the northeast, where since yesterday, rainfall has already exceeded 100 l/m² in several locations. And the rain continues to fall relentlessly throughout that area. In this regard, Meteocat has activated a red alert for observed rainfall accumulations of 200 l/m² in 24 hours in the Baix Empordà, while Aemet has activated a red alert – the highest level – in the Empordà for accumulations exceeding 180 l/m² in just twelve hours.
It's raining on already saturated waters, causing some rivers in the Girona region to reach very high flows, exceeding alert or danger thresholds. For example, the Daró River surpassed 500 m³/s this morning as it passed through La Bisbal d'Empordà, a figure significantly higher than that reached during Storm Gloria in January 2020 (430 m³/s) and also higher than the current flow of the Ebro River. However, the level has been decreasing slightly as the hours have passed. The Onyar River is also running high, with a flow of over 300 m³/s as it passes through Girona, and water is near houses. Civil Protection has issued an alert for the risk of river overflows and flooding in the Alt and Baix Empordà, La Selva, and Gironès regions, urging people to avoid travel until this afternoon and suspending school, sports, and day center activities in these areas.
Furthermore, the rough seas and winds have intensified along the entire coast, with a wave of up to six meters recorded at the Begur buoy in the Baix Empordà region. This weather event will continue throughout the day, with more rain, snow in the eastern Pyrenees, and heavy swells. Numerous weather warnings remain in effect due to significant rainfall accumulations and intensities, snowfall in the Ripollès region, strong winds, and rough seas. Civil Protection has maintained the Inuncat and Neucat flood plans on alert and the Alaucat plan on pre-alert. The situation will clearly improve on Wednesday, but the weather is not expected to clear in the coming days.
The storm's main course
Since last night and throughout today, the easterly storm is reaching its peak. This Tuesday, continuous rainfall will continue, moving inland from the sea and affecting all areas. The heaviest and most persistent rain will again be recorded in the Girona and northeastern Barcelona regions, where some totals could reach or exceed 150 or 200 liters per square meter. Heavy rain is also expected in the Ebro Valley this afternoon, where accumulations of up to 100 liters per square meter are possible. Meteocat has issued warnings for intense rain and accumulations of more than 100 liters per square meter in these areas.
Be aware of the strong waves and snow. The easterly and northeasterly winds have intensified along the entire coast, with some gusts exceeding 60 to 70 km/h, and a very rough sea is expected today, bringing waves of 4 to 6 meters in height, with the Costa Brava being the epicenter. The entire coastline is under red or orange alert for rough seas. Snowfall will increase and be significant in the eastern Pyrenees and on the peaks of Montseny above approximately 1,200 to 1,400 meters. Total accumulations from this event will exceed half a meter of new snow in the higher elevations of Ripollès, Conflent, and Vallespir. A warning is currently in effect for Ripollès in this regard.
There are also warnings for strong winds in coastal and pre-coastal areas between Girona and Barcelona. Very moderate cold temperatures are expected at night and in the early morning, with more wintry highs, many temperatures between 8 and 13°C. Rain, wind, and rough seas are also expected in the Balearic Islands, with more scattered showers in the Valencian Community.
Wednesday will be calmer, but no cleaning is needed.
The storm will move away rapidly by the end of today, with decreasing rainfall, but especially tomorrow, Wednesday, with clear skies and a marked improvement in the weather. However, after the easterly winds subside, we will enter a period of Atlantic fronts bringing changeable weather with a risk of further scattered showers. The first front will cross us between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, and a couple more will arrive on Friday and over the weekend. This situation will bring more snow to the Pyrenees, where the snow level will drop significantly. Even over the weekend, snowfall could be seen below 1,000 meters, and snow will also reach the valleys and the Pre-Pyrenees. This is a volatile situation that we will need to monitor closely. Temperatures will drop, with distinctly wintry conditions and westerly to mistral winds.
The easterly storm that has been affecting us since yesterday has already brought significant rainfall to the Girona region, where it has been falling continuously for hours, exceeding 100 l/m² in some areas. Rain is falling everywhere, some more heavily than others, with the lowest amounts towards the west of the country. These are the most significant provisional rainfall totals from Monday to Tuesday morning:
- 197 l/m²: Palafrugell
- 170 l/m²: Portbou
- 150 l/m²: Roses
- 144 l/m²: Banyoles
- 144 l/m²: Girona
- 144 l/m²: Torroella de Montgrí
- 133 l/m²: Fornells de la Selva
- 132 l/m²: Cabanes
- 127 l/m²: Espolla
- 127 l/m²: Castell d'Aro
- 121 l/m²: Navata
- 121 l/m²: La Tallada de Empordà
- 112 l/m²: The squirrel-Cantonigros
- 112 l/m²: Santa Coloma de Farners
- 110 l/m²: Torroella de Fluvià
- 106 l/m²: Puig Sesolles
- 102 l/m²: La Bisbal d'Empordà
All this comes after a weekend of widespread rainfall, with the heaviest downpours recorded in the southern and western parts of the region, exceeding 50 or 100 liters per square meter in many areas. Some of the wettest areas were the Camp de Tarragona and the southern slopes of the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees of Lleida, where snowfall was particularly significant at mid and high elevations, reaching nearly a meter in northern Alta Ribagorça. Notable rainfall totals included 140 liters per square meter in Boí (Alta Ribagorça) and 138 liters per square meter in Montbrió del Camp (Baix Camp).