The Catalan government urges people to avoid travel to southern Catalonia due to the risk of torrential rain.

BarcelonaThe Generalitat of Catalonia has sent an ES-ALERT warning to mobile phones located in Montsià and Baix Ebre due to the risk of torrential rain. Civil Protection recommends avoiding travel and outdoor activities, and avoiding approaching rivers or flood-prone areas. In fact, Meteocat has raised the risk of torrential downpours to red alert—the highest possible—in Tarragonès, Baix Camp, Montsià, and Baix Ebre. Many other regions also have yellow or orange alerts for heavy rain, while Civil Protection has activated the Inuncat plan alert. The instability will also affect the Valencian Community and especially the Balearic Islands, where storms could be strong or very strong. Showers will continue to fall until tomorrow in many places, with a significant refresher.

Santi Sagalà, head of forecasting at Meteocat, explained that rainfall of more than one liter per square meter per minute has already occurred, and intensities of up to 40 liters in half an hour and accumulations of up to 100 liters are expected.

Therefore, Imma Solé, Deputy Director General of Emergency Management and Coordination, explained that an SMS alert was sent at 1:50 p.m. to mobile phones in these two regions, urging the population to exercise caution and avoid high-risk outdoor areas and activities, and that, in case of flooding, they should go to high points and not basements. The text of the message reads: "Forecast of heavy rain this afternoon in the south of the territory, mainly in Baix Ebre and Montsià. Avoid movement and outdoor activities. Do not approach rivers, streams, ravines, or flood-prone areas; avoid low-lying areas and basements. If water enters, go to upper floors."

Time Shift

This change in weather comes after a fairly quiet and, above all, very warm weekend for the time, with highs yesterday exceeding 34°C in the West and southern inland. The arrival of an active cold front will reactivate instability this Monday. Showers and strong thunderstorms will begin to move in the south and spread to central Catalonia and the north during the afternoon.

Monday: change in weather with the arrival of a front

The approach of an active front associated with a cold air path at altitude will increase cloudiness and the reappearance of showers and thunderstorms. The first precipitation will begin during the morning, especially in the south, particularly affecting the Camp de Tarragona region, as well as some scattered showers in central Catalonia, the pre-coastal region, and the Pre-Pyrenees. Be careful because thunderstorms can already be strong, especially in Camp de Tarragona. The night was very mild or warm for the time of year, and highs will still remain high, although they will decrease. They will be around 30°C in the West, and in the south, 28°C on the coast with muggy conditions.

From midday through the afternoon, showers will intensify, particularly affecting Tarragona and the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, particularly the eastern Pyrenees. They will also fall in central Catalonia and other coastal and pre-coastal areas in the central and southern regions. The Costa Brava and the Western region will be less affected. Locally, they will be of strong intensity and accompanied by hail or occasional stone chips. Be careful starting in the afternoon in Terres de l'Ebre, nearby areas, and Castellón, where some showers will occur. Meteocat has also issued a warning for accumulations of up to 100 l/m² or more in the south of the country throughout the episode.

Tuesday: new showers and storms

On Tuesday, rain could sweep across the entire territory, locally heavy and especially in the early hours. Storms will fall in the early hours and during the morning on the central and southern coast and pre-coastal areas, as well as in Central Catalonia and the Pre-Pyrenees. As the hours pass, irregular showers will recur in the northern half of the territory. In the afternoon, some new storms will return to the south and the pre-coastal areas. Showers will also fall in the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, with amounts that could exceed 30 or 40 l/m.² in just under half an hour and heavy rain in just a few hours.

A quieter Diada long weekend

Unstable conditions will continue on Wednesday, with some early morning and early morning showers in the northern central coast and the Costa Brava. A few thunderstorms could occur in the northeast during the afternoon. However, the Diada long weekend looks set to be considerably calmer, with mild mornings and afternoon showers in the Pyrenees.

Lunar Eclipse

Yesterday Sunday it took place a total lunar eclipse, in which the Earth's shadow was completely projected onto our satellite. In Catalonia, the Moon appeared over the horizon at 8:11 p.m. The total phase ended at 8:53 p.m., and the eclipse was completely over shortly before 10 p.m. The Moon was tinged with a reddish hue at the peak of the phenomenon, which is why we call it a Blood Moon. The problem was poor visibility due to the presence of cloud bands as the less active part of the front arrived.