Emergency systems in Spain are stretched thin as torrential rain batters Tarragona and Castellón for a second day, with red alerts still in place. Some areas have already recorded more than 130 liters of rain per square meter, and up to 300 liters could fall in less than 12 hours.
The State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, has widened its warnings, putting ten autonomous communities on alert. The heaviest rain is hitting the central-northern coast of the Valencian Community and southern Catalonia, where rainfall has reached levels rarely seen outside the hottest months. San Andrés y Sauces (La Palma) logged 130 liters by late evening. Vandellòs (Tarragona) saw 84 liters, while Polinyà de Xúquer (Valencia) recorded 72. Aemet officials said red alerts in Castellón and Valencia, as well as Tarragona, were triggered by forecasts of up to 90 liters per square meter in one hour and up to 250 liters in 12 hours. Spanish authorities called it "peligro extraordinario."
Authorities in the Valencian Community activated the ES-Alert system, sending emergency messages to residents in Castellón and Valencia because of the risk of flash floods and sudden river overflows.
Friday's alert map is a patchwork of warnings across much of the country, ranging from red to yellow. Red rain alerts remain in place through midday for the southern coast of Tarragona and all of Castellón. Orange alerts for rain and storms extend across Catalonia and the Valencian Community, as well as Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, and Murcia. Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Madrid, and Extremadura face yellow and orange warnings. Local meteorologists in Catalonia raised the alert in several comarcas of Tarragona, with the highest risk in Tarragona and the Ebro area. Rainfall could exceed 40 liters per square meter in just 30 minutes.
The Mediterranean is much warmer than usual, adding to the storm's intensity. Sea surface temperatures in the western basin are above 26°C, up to 4°C higher than normal for early June. The extra heat is feeding the storm with more moisture, heavier rain, and a longer threat. EFE reported that Castellón had already received more than 100 liters per square meter before the basic storm hit.
Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo says more rain is expected in the Mediterranean and Balearic areas this weekend, while conditions should ease elsewhere. Saturday's forecast keeps nine communities under alert. The most severe red warnings are expected to fade, with orange and yellow alerts taking their place as the system weakens.
EFE reported that official agencies expected the episode to last at least until Saturday, with very intense and persistent rainfall along the Mediterranean coast and a heightened risk of flooding and river overflows. In some areas, total rainfall could exceed 300 liters per square meter in 12 hours, significantly increasing the danger of flash floods in coastal and low-lying zones.
A new weather system, a dana, is expected to form on Sunday, though its impact remains unclear. Del Campo says it will depend on where the dana settles and how much moisture it draws in. The forecast places it west of the peninsula. Instability and scattered showers will linger across much of Spain, while the worst of the rain should be over and the Mediterranean coast gradually calm down. Central and eastern inland regions could still see storms through Wednesday.
Spain's emergency response is under pressure because of the amount of rain and the speed at which conditions are changing. Alerts have escalated quickly, the storm's path keeps shifting, and authorities have had to react on the fly. As reported earlier, Spain's crisis management is being tested, whether the threat comes from the sky or from unrest on the ground.
The storm shows how unpredictable Spain's climate can be as summer nears. Sea temperatures are far above normal, and weather patterns are more erratic, making sudden, high-impact storms a real risk. Mediterranean regions need to adapt and stay ready. For now, people remain on alert, with another wave possible soon.
