Meteocat raised the rain danger to its maximum level for Saturday afternoon, warning that some areas could receive up to 90 millimetres in 30 minutes. The warning covers the entire central coast. The heaviest rain is expected to move north-west on Sunday towards Girona and parts of Barcelona province. Organisers moved the Barcelona housing demonstration to Monday, 5 October, as authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and outdoor activity.
The demonstration was scheduled to start at 18:00 on Saturday at Plaça Espanya and continue towards L'Hospitalet. It will now begin at 19:00 on Monday in Plaça Urquinaona. Organisers pointed to repeated instructions to avoid unnecessary travel and outdoor activity.
The protest is delayed, not canceled.
The Generalitat prepared restrictions for 20 comarques, in force from 20:00 on Saturday until 14:00 on Sunday. Non-impressive travel will be limited, while activities in natural areas, urban parks and gardens will be suspended. Sports, cultural and leisure events will also be affected, along with outdoor markets, fairs and other public gatherings.
President Salvador Illa said a Mediterranean mini-hurricane was approaching Catalonia and warned that the weather ahead would be highly complex. The Govern urged residents to follow prevention measures from Saturday afternoon through Sunday.
Civil Protection separately advised people to limit travel and outdoor activity, warning that conditions could put citizens at unnecessary risk. It said southern Catalonia had also faced strong downpours, red danger levels and ES-Alert notifications in preceding days. Local flooding was recorded in some areas during a prolonged storm episode, rather than an isolated short-term deterioration in the weather.
The affected areas include Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, Alt Penedès, Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès, Garraf, Garrotxa, Gironès, Pla de l'Estany, Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, Maresme, Selva, Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Baix Penedès, Osona, Ripollès, Tarragonès and Moianès.
The Govern expects to send an ES-Alert outlining the restrictions. The Procicat spokesperson said activities planned for Saturday afternoon should be rescheduled to avoid exposing the public to dangerous conditions.
Meteocat said the basic risks include exceptionally intense downpours, dangerous weather phenomena and local flooding in coastal and foothill areas. Rain is expected to shift north-west on Sunday towards Girona and parts of Barcelona province.
AEMET has also issued red alerts for Barcelona and Girona because torrential rain poses an extraordinary danger. The most difficult period is expected from Saturday night until Sunday midday. Flooding is possible, and rivers and streams could rise.
Barcelona City Council activated its municipal heavy-rain action plan at alert level on Friday. Girona City Council said it would activate its plan at 17:00 on Saturday and suspend all activities scheduled for Sunday.
Authorities are suspending outdoor activities across the affected areas. The measures do not target the housing demonstration itself.
The storm had already brought intense rain to southern Catalonia. Meteocat recorded more than 100 millimetres in Terres de l'Ebre between Thursday and Saturday, while parts of Montsià and Baix Ebre received more than 200 millimetres.
The highest totals included 282.5 millimetres in les Cases d'Alcanar and 276.6 millimetres in l'Ametlla de Mar.
For residents, the immediate question is whether travel to an event makes sense under the announced restrictions. Outdoor gatherings are suspended, and red alerts remain in force for Barcelona and Girona.
Organisers rescheduled the protest during the period of greatest flood risk, when public safety measures take priority.
