Heavy rain is spreading across Spain's eastern coast, where Aemet has issued red alerts for Tarragona, Castellón and Valencia. Renfe has suspended several long-distance services and stopped Cercanías trains in Valencia. Rainfall could reach 250mm in 12 hours in Tarragona and northern Castellón, while some areas may see up to 90mm in one hour.
Some forecasts put rainfall on Valencia's northern coast at 180mm over the same 12-hour period. The agency's special notice calls the episode potentially exceptional, warning that water levels could rise quickly in streams and other waterways. Sudden flooding is the basic concern.
Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary journeys and follow notices from Protección Civil. RTVE and EFE reported that the rail restrictions were linked to the red alerts and worsening conditions. In Valencia, the full suspension affected Cercanías lines C1, C2, C3 and C6.
The red alert is due to remain in force from 18:00 on 1 October until 02:00 on 2 October. Other parts of the Valencian Community could see up to 90mm in one hour, posing a separate flood risk: water can rise quickly even where 12-hour totals are lower.
Juan Carlos Valderrama, the Generalitat Valenciana's conseller of Emergencias, said the red alert would remain in place until the next day. Officials want to avoid late-night changes to the warnings and keep emergency services ready in case rainfall shifts sharply.
Conditions are already severe in Valencia and Castellón, but no serious incidents have been reported there. Rainfall has been recorded in municipalities including Eslida and Xodar. EFE and RTVE said no major incidents had been confirmed in the affected areas when they published their updates, while the heaviest rain was still expected.
Renfe has also suspended selected Euromed and Intercity services linking Catalonia with the Valencian Community, extending disruption beyond Valencia's commuter network. Tarragona could face a harder morning tomorrow, although the latest reports show no major complications there so far.
AEMET's Aviso Especial will remain in place until Saturday for the eastern third of the peninsula. It covers heavy rain and sudden flooding across parts of the eastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
Reports give different end times for Castellón. Some put the red alert's end in the morning of 2 October, while others extend it toward midday. Conditions in one municipality now do not rule out flooding later.
Rail travel is already disrupted. Long-distance services and Valencia's commuter network have both been affected, while the wider Spanish news agenda shows how official decisions can quickly affect daily life, as an earlier housing report illustrates.
Residents in the affected areas should avoid unnecessary journeys and follow Aemet and Protección Civil notices, treating the red alert as an active restriction. The most intense conditions are still expected overnight.
