Floodwater covered roads across Tarragona, leaving 18 people needing help in Xerta. Emergency crews rescued 24 people from vehicles across the region, including two in Vandellòs and two in Cambrils.
The storm is moving toward Catalonia’s coastline and prelitoral areas. Interior chief Núria Parlon has urged residents to avoid rieras and flood-prone zones. She also told people to postpone or bring forward non-impressive travel until the danger eases.
Protection Civil issued an ES-Alert at 17.45 for residents of Baix Camp, Baix Ebre, Ribera d'Ebre and Terra Alta. Shortly after 19.00, a second mass warning followed, covering Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Garraf, Gironès, Maresme and La Selva.
Residents in those areas were told to limit movement. Torrential rain could continue until two in the morning.
Granollers, in Barcelona province, also received a warning. Monday’s downpours hit the municipality hardest, and a specific ES-Alert forecasts more torrential rain there until 2.00.
Meteocat forecaster Santi Segalà says the storm has an unusually tropical character, bringing very intense rain in exceptionally short periods.
The measurements show how quickly conditions changed. Vinyols i els Arcs received 46 litres per square metre in half an hour. Riudecanyes recorded 43, while Mont-roig del Camp had 40. Several locations received between 60 and 80 litres in three hours.
The unstable weather is expected to move out over the sea from midnight, with rainfall easing before dawn.
Roads were hit too. The A-7 and C-43 reopened after landslides and flooding forced closures. The C-12 remained completely covered by water in southern Catalonia.
Sudden water accumulation and blocked carriageways explain the authorities’ focus on mobility. Residents are being told to limit movement and follow the forecast.
The episode follows several days of severe weather in the region. The scale of the disruption was also reported earlier. Drivers can become trapped before officials formally close a route.
Wednesday should bring a brief break from the heaviest rain, though weaker showers will remain. Temperatures are expected to fall across the region as tramontana and mestral winds arrive.
Flooded roads and waterways will remain a risk while the alerts are active. Authorities advise avoiding unnecessary travel.
Rescues took place in four Tarragona municipalities. Roads remain closed, and warnings cover 12 comarcas. The basic danger is rapid water accumulation where vehicles cannot escape.
Until the storm moves offshore, authorities are urging people to limit unnecessary travel.
