As summer comes to an end and heat waves subside, weather-related problems associated with rain and storms are on the horizon. The Catalan Meteorological Service (Meteocat) and the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) have issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Barcelona and much of Catalonia today , Wednesday, September 16.
Weather services are warning of possible very intense rain showers over very short periods of time. According to forecasts, rainfall could exceed 40 liters per square meter in 30 minutes in some parts of Catalonia, and there could even be isolated hailstorms.
The AEMET and Meteocat also point to potential problems caused by strong gusts of wind reaching up to 50 kilometers per hour and a significant drop in temperatures that will last through the weekend.
As a precautionary measure, Civil Protection has activated the INUNCAT plan in response to the high risk of torrential rain, especially from noon until midnight.
The regions at highest risk this afternoon are Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, Garrotxa, Gironès, Pla de l’Estany, and La Selva, and tonight, special attention will be paid to rainfall and thunderstorms in Anoia, Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès, Maresme, Vallès Occidental, and Vallès Oriental.
Emergency services are asking the public to limit travel and exercise extreme caution if they need to drive or travel to any of the areas where the alert is in effect.
