Red alert issued in southern Girona due to heavy rain and flood risk. Aemet has declared a red alert on the Girona coast. Over 90 liters of precipitation per square meter fell in just one hour. Authorities have urged maximum caution and restricted movement.
On Monday, a red weather alert was issued along the southern coast of Girona. According to the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), over 90 liters of precipitation per square meter fell in the region within one hour. The cause was slow-moving thunderstorm fronts, which led to a sharp increase in the risk of local flooding and inundations.
The restrictions remained in effect until 17:59, and authorities strongly advised residents to take precautions and follow the instructions of Protección Civil. Particular attention was given to road safety and to any outdoor events, where rapid accumulation of water and sudden rises in small rivers and streams were possible.
Earlier, Protección Civil had activated the special Inuncat plan designed to address the threat of flooding in Catalonia. Forecasts from the Servicio Meteorológico de Cataluña indicated that the 20-liter per square meter threshold could be exceeded as early as midday, with the heaviest downpours expected in the evening. The highest risk was noted in the areas of Alt Empordà, Garrotxa, Pla de l'Estany, and Gironès, where thunderstorms were accompanied by heavy rainfall.
Authorities have reminded the public that under such weather conditions, it is especially important to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay away from bodies of water that are prone to rapid flooding. In the event of further deterioration, emergency services are prepared to respond promptly to possible incidents. It is important to note that such weather events have become increasingly frequent in recent years, as confirmed by analysis from russpain.com, where risks to infrastructure and transportation under extreme weather conditions have been previously discussed, for example, in a report on the impact on sporting events: how weather conditions affect the organization of major events.
For reference: the red level weather alert in Spain indicates the highest risk and requires the population to strictly follow all instructions from civil protection services. In recent years, Catalonia has seen an increase in such warnings, which is linked to climate change and heightened rainfall intensity in certain regions. The introduction of the Inuncat plan allows emergency services to coordinate their actions and minimize the impact on residents and infrastructure.
