Severe storms swept through Catalonia on Thursday, disrupting travel as emergency services responded to dozens of incidents linked to intense rain and wind. Reports included fallen trees and flooded streets, while roads were blocked. The R3 Rodalies train line between Vic (Barcelona) and Ripoll (Girona) suspended service after a tree fell onto the tracks.
Between midday and 6 p.m., firefighters received 51 calls for assistance, mainly in Girona province and central Catalonia. Most incidents involved trees falling onto public roads or water flooding the ground floors of buildings. The adverse weather also triggered a rockslide on the N-145 near Valls de Valira (Lleida), causing traffic jams of up to four kilometers in both directions before the road was cleared by early evening.
President Salvador Illa urged people to exercise maximum caution, especially when traveling during the storm. He stressed the importance of following emergency instructions and keeping clear of waterways and ravines. He also warned against parking in areas prone to flooding. Civil Protection maintained the Pla Especial d’Emergències per Inundacions de Catalunya, known as INUNCAT, Catalonia’s flood-emergency plan. Its alert phase was activated on August 6 amid forecasts of intense rain and thunderstorms, with hail and strong winds also expected across much of the region. A warning published by El Nacional at 12:29 p.m. recorded the alert and forecast rainfall exceeding 40 millimeters in 30 minutes.
That short-duration intensity threshold differs from the warning that rainfall could exceed 40 liters per square meter across much of the territory: the first specifies a 30-minute period, while the second describes the forecast more broadly. The warning area included the Pyrenees and inland Catalonia, with storms later expected to reach coastal and pre-coastal areas of Girona, Barcelona and Tarragona. The alert structure links Civil Protection with the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat), while emergency services form part of the response.
As the storm front moved from the Pyrenees toward the coasts of Girona, Barcelona and Tarragona, authorities reported hail and strong gusts that complicated driving conditions. The warnings covered heavy rain and thunderstorms, alongside wind and hail, across almost the whole region. Visibility was particularly poor on the C-25 between Rajadell and Fonollosa, prompting further warnings for motorists to exercise extreme caution.
Transport disruptions and emergency alerts have become more frequent in recent years, reflecting a broader pattern of severe weather affecting Spain’s infrastructure. Regional responses to crises have previously drawn attention, including when political tensions in Catalonia escalated following judicial decisions. No injuries were reported in Thursday’s storms.
Meteorological data indicate that Catalonia is increasingly vulnerable to sudden, intense rainfall episodes, which can overwhelm drainage systems and disrupt daily life. INUNCAT coordinates emergency resources and public communication as risks evolve. Residents are advised to monitor official updates and follow emergency instructions, while keeping clear of waterways and avoiding unnecessary travel during alerts. The current episode was expected to subside by midnight, but authorities remained vigilant for further developments as weather patterns continued to shift across Spain.
