Southern Catalonia is grappling with severe weather conditions as intense rainfall has forced the suspension of all educational activities in the Montsià and Baix Ebre regions. The storm system, which swept through the Ebre lands, has prompted Civil Protection authorities to advise against unnecessary travel and to avoid flood-prone areas. The disruption comes as meteorological services recorded precipitation levels exceeding 150 liters per square meter in the Ports Natural Park, with the Ebre Hydrographic Confederation warning of potential flooding in several river basins.
The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat) had previously issued rainfall warnings for 15 Catalan counties, anticipating showers that could surpass 20 millimeters within 30 minutes. The alert covered multiple regions including Montsià, Baix Ebre, Baix Camp, and Tarragonès in Tarragona province, with medium danger levels declared. Meteorological officials noted that the rainfall was expected to intensify throughout Sunday afternoon and evening as the extratropical storm Gabrielle approached the region.
Record-breaking precipitation has been documented across affected municipalities, with Amposta in Montsià receiving the highest rainfall at 303.4 millimeters per square meter. Other significantly impacted areas include Mas de Barberans with 216.6 millimeters, Els Alfacs with 208.8 millimeters, and Ports Natural Park in Baix Ebre with 202.1 millimeters. The torrential downpours, accompanied by thunderstorms with vertical developments exceeding 10 kilometers, have affected multiple counties including Montsià, Baix Ebre, Ribera d'Ebre, Priorat, and Baix Camp.
The severe weather has caused widespread disruptions beyond school closures, with power outages reported in municipalities including Amposta and Mas de Barberans. Transportation has been significantly affected, including the temporary closure of the N-340 highway between La Ràpita and Amposta in both directions during Sunday afternoon and evening. Interurban bus services have also experienced incidents, though Civil Protection has confirmed that classes will resume normally following the subsidence of the rainfall episode.
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