The sky over Barcelona has turned that leaden gray that signals it’s best not to leave your umbrella at home today. A new front of heavy rain has been battering all of Catalonia since Monday, October 19, forcing authorities to keep the INUNCAT plan in effect and placing the Catalan capital and its neighboring regions at the center of the alert map until at least Tuesday morning.
What began as a steady drizzle threatens to turn into torrential rain, especially in the afternoon, when the heaviest rainfall is expected. With the risk of flooding looming over neighborhoods and likely transportation disruptions, authorities have suspended some urban activities and are asking residents to exercise extreme caution in the areas most exposed to the storm.
A lot of rain in a very short time
The clouds are going to unleash a heavy downpour. Weather forecasts indicate that the most critical period will occur this afternoon. Along the coast, more than 40 liters per square meter could fall in just half an hour—a veritable downpour that could total more than 100 liters in 24 hours across much of the region. The Barcelonès region, along with its neighbors in Baix Llobregat, Maresme, Garraf, and the two Vallès regions, currently constitutes the area at greatest risk.
When it rains this heavily, Barcelona’s streets feel the impact. There is a real risk that water will accumulate rapidly on streets, in ground-floor apartments, basements, and underpasses—a very real possibility, given that just this past weekend, flooding incidents were already reported in areas such as Nou Barris.
Getting around the city will require patience. Significant traffic disruptions are expected, along with possible disruptions to the public transit system during the heaviest downpours. Additionally, the situation has forced Civil Protection to cancel the chemical hazard siren drill that was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. today. The decision aims to prevent confusion among residents and ensure that all attention is focused on the weather alert.
Common Sense: What to Do and What to Avoid
In the face of a storm of this nature, Civil Protection has issued a series of recommendations to help you weather the downpour safely. The golden rule is simple: if you can avoid leaving home or making unnecessary trips during the heaviest rainfall, do so.
- Outdoors: Don’t even think about crossing or approaching streams, ravines, or flood-prone areas, no matter how calm or empty they may seem at that moment.
- At home: Avoid going down to underground garages or storage rooms. If you see water starting to enter your home, you should immediately go up to the upper floors.
- Emergency phone number: Remember that 112 is a vital resource; use it only and exclusively if you are facing a real emergency to avoid overloading the lines.
