Warning for torrential and very heavy rains in the Ebro and the Valencian Community

Today we will continue to be under the influence of a storm located in the southern peninsula. These are the effects of the former hurricane. Gabrielle, which, having become a storm, made landfall early yesterday morning in Portugal. Its position and counterclockwise rotation are driving humid winds from the sea towards the land in our Mediterranean region, laden with moisture and instability. This situation will continue to cause rain and downpours, especially between the Ebro and the Valencian Community, while the rest of Catalonia will remain more excluded from its range of action. Since yesterday, more than 100 l/m² have accumulated in parts of Montsià and Baix Ebre, with numerous incidents. However, the nearly 300 l/m² recorded in Amposta, which recorded its wettest day on record, stands out (you'll find all the data and images at the end of this article).

Meteocat maintains orange warnings for very heavy rain and accumulations that could exceed 200 l/m² throughout the episode in Montsià and Baix Ebre, while in other southern regions the alerts are yellow. A red alert is also in effect for heavy and intense rain on the Valencian coast and pre-coast, exactly today, the eleventh month since the catastrophe caused by Hurricane DANA. In this case, rain will fall more on the coast and pre-coast, not as much inland, and in principle, the extraordinary levels of last year should not be reached.

Monday: Showers in the Ebro and the Valencian Community

The week begins with still very unsettled weather in the south, but more stable in the center and north of the country, where there will be more sunny spells and almost no precipitation. During the morning, heavy rain will continue to fall in Terres de l'Ebre, with some local downpours. Caution should be exercised with rising streams and the flow of water down the ravines in this area. We should also keep an eye on the Valencian Community, where the more direct arrival of the humid easterly wind will result in continued heavy rain, with records that could occasionally exceed 150 l/m² in less than 24 hours in Valencia and Castellón. Precipitation will increase, especially starting in the afternoon in the Valencia area. Some models indicate that between 300 and 400 liters could accumulate during the entire episode.

In Catalonia, further very patchy, light showers will fall during the afternoon in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, as well as in northern Central Catalonia, locally forming thunderstorms. In Terres de l'Ebre, rain will continue until at least the early afternoon, but the storm will then subside.

The weather improves from Tuesday onwards.

Starting Tuesday, the weather will improve in the south, with only the occasional light shower. However, heavy rain could still occur between the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, with a few downpours. Temperatures will recover, with highs around 25°C on the coast and lows of 17°C. Inland, nights will be cooler, with normal temperatures for the season.

Rainfall assessment so far

The severe storm has been hitting the Ebro region since Sunday, where more than 100 or 200 l/m² have already accumulated. The heaviest rainfall so far has been in Amposta, where a torrential accumulation of 50 l/m² was recorded in just half an hour tonight. Rain will continue to fall in this area especially during the morning, while the storm will intensify in the Valencian Community, where local accumulations of more than 200 or 300 l/m² could occur by tomorrow. The showers and thunderstorms of recent hours have also affected other regions more irregularly, particularly in the West and south, with accumulations of between 10 and 30 l/m² in areas of the Pla de Lleida. These are the highest rainfall amounts so far since yesterday:

• 285 l/m²: Amposta
• 206 l/m²: Mas de Barberans
• 195 l/m²: Roquetas-Els Ports National Park
• 185 l/m²: La Rápita-los Alfaques
• 110 l/m²: L'Aldea
• 108 l/m²: Tivissa