Intense storms swept through Catalunya on Thursday, 6 August, bringing torrential rain and hail that closed basic rail lines and roads and caused impressive agricultural damage. The disruption began early in the day, when Rodalies suspended service on the R11, RL4 and R3 lines because of the storm. By late afternoon, Protecció Civil had escalated the emergency response, placing the Ferrocat plan on pre-alert and confirming that seven rail lines were affected: R1, R2 Nord, R11, RG1, R13, R14 and R3. The R11 line between Maçanet and Girona was among the hardest hit. Renfe deployed replacement buses to Figueres and offered seats on Avant services for travelers between Girona and Barcelona in both directions.
Rail infrastructure suffered further setbacks when fallen trees blocked the R3 line between Vic and Ripoll, prompting Renfe and Adif to extend alternative road transport. The RL4 line was also cut between Calaf and Manresa after a swollen stream made the tracks impassable. Flooding hampered road alternatives, although bus services continued between Fabra i Puig and La Garriga, as well as between Centelles and Vic. The Servei Català de Trànsit reported that the N-145 near the Andorra border was closed because of a landslide of rocks and mud, while single-lane closures were enforced on the C-63 in Brunyola and the C-25 in Rajadell due to standing water.
Rainfall totals reached exceptional levels in several areas. Isòvol in Cerdanya recorded 71 litres per square metre, Fals in Bages saw 62, and Sant Salvador de Guardiola registered 58 by early evening. Meteocat warned that the storms were expected to shift south overnight, with violent-weather alerts covering Alt Camp and Conca de Barberà, as well as les Garrigues, Pla d’Urgell, Segrià and Urgell. Protecció Civil activated the INUNCAT flood-emergency plan at alert level as forecasts indicated that rainfall could exceed 40 litres per square metre in 30 minutes, raising the risk of rapid flooding and dangerous travel conditions. Salvador Illa, president of the Generalitat, called for maximum caution, especially when travelling. Protecció Civil urged residents to take extra care on the roads and during outdoor activities, stay away from flood-prone areas, and avoid rivers and streams.
Hailstorms struck numerous towns, and residents shared images of agricultural damage on social media. In Sant Joan les Fonts, hailstones more than 4 cm in diameter blanketed the streets, with local farmers and residents reporting heavy losses. Hail can damage fruit and cereal crops within minutes, as well as other produce, adding to the risks for farming communities as storms moved toward western and southern counties. By 8 p.m., emergency services had received 300 calls and responded to 115 incidents, mostly involving flooded basements and blocked drains, along with fallen branches and efforts to secure public infrastructure. Vallès Oriental, Bages and Selva were the areas hardest hit by emergency calls.
By late afternoon, the storms had reached the central pre-coastal region and Barcelona, bringing intense rainfall to Vallès Oriental. Earlier, heavy showers and hail had battered the Pyrenees and northern Ripollès, as well as Andorra and Cerdanya. Santi Segalà, head of forecasting at the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (SMC), said the episode was expected to subside around midnight, although slow-moving, locally intense storms remained a risk. The INUNCAT plan, activated the previous day, remained in force. Forecasters warned that more than 40 litres per square metre could fall in 30 minutes across much of the region, with some areas potentially exceeding 90 litres in three hours. The SMC rated the danger at 4 out of 6, citing the likelihood of violent phenomena, including strong winds and hail, as well as downbursts.
While Catalunya faced widespread disruption, other parts of Spain have also experienced emergencies this summer. In Ceuta, a surge of over 1,000 migrants arriving by sea recently strained local shelters and prompted urgent coordination between authorities, as detailed in this report on the recent migration crisis in Ceuta. Such events highlight the challenges posed by extreme weather and humanitarian pressures across the country.
Storm-related emergencies are not uncommon in Spain, especially during the summer months, when sudden downpours can cause flash floods and infrastructure damage. Heavy rainfall, hail and strong winds can also cause large agricultural losses, particularly in regions such as Catalunya, where fruit and vegetable production is critical to the local economy. During this episode, authorities activated emergency plans and arranged alternative transport while issuing public-safety guidance. Protecció Civil advised residents to limit unnecessary travel and use basic roads if a journey was unavoidable, while avoiding secondary roads, watercourses and flood-prone areas. Residents were also told to call 112 if assistance was needed.
