Torrential rains trigger red alerts and train suspensions across Catalonia and Valencia

A widespread storm system is battering the eastern and central Iberian Peninsula, with red flood alerts in as many as twenty provinces across ten autonomous communities. The most intense warnings cover Castellón and Tarragona, where Aemet predicts up to 90 litres of rain per square metre in an hour and 250 litres over twelve hours along the coast. Catalan authorities have issued an ES-Alert for the Baix Ebre and Montsià comarcas, urging people not to travel, avoid basements, and stay indoors.

The heavy downpours have forced Renfe to suspend the R16 line between Tarragona and Tortosa at the request of firefighters, and Rodalies has imposed speed restrictions and schedule disruptions on southern regional services. Additional localized showers are expected in other parts of Tarragona, while the rain is expected to ease temporarily in the Terres de l’Ebre later this afternoon.