Rodalies and FGC Rail Services Suspended
Rodalies de Catalunya has suspended all train services from 20:00 on Saturday 3 October due to the red alert for torrential rain issued by Meteocat. The suspension includes all lines except RL3, RL4, and R16 between Tortosa and L'Hospitalet de l'Infant, which operate outside the maximum risk zone. High-speed services between Figueres, Girona, and Barcelona are also affected, with the 5:28 AM AVE from Figueres to Barcelona, the 7:27 AM AVE from Barcelona to Figueres, the 9:09 AM Euromed to Alicante, and the 8:05 AM Avant service between Barcelona Sants and Figueres Vilafant all cancelled. Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC) will halt operations from 20:00 Saturday until 14:00 Sunday. In contrast, Barcelona metro services will run until midnight tonight and resume at 05:00 on Sunday as if on a weekday schedule to discourage private vehicle use during the storm.
Cultural and Civic Activities Cancelled
The Barcelona City Council, acting on Civil Protection recommendations, has advanced the closure of libraries, museums, and civic centres. All Festa Major events, fairs, markets, and outdoor commercial activities in the city are suspended from 20:00 Saturday to 14:00 Sunday. Cultural venues across 20 counties, including Alt Empordà, Barcelonès, Maresme, and Tarragonès, have cancelled performances. In Barcelona alone, 150 theatre venues and 25 cinemas are affected. Productions including The Puppy at Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Cheerful Pessimism at Sala Beckett, Mamma Mia! at Teatre Tívoli, and The Threepenny Opera at Teatre Lliure have been called off. The Teatre Lliure’s 50th-anniversary celebration was also cancelled. Isabel Vidal, president of the Association of Theater Companies of Catalonia (Adetca), said:
Saturday is the day of the week with the most performances. The impact is huge. If the resolution aims to prevent citizen mobility, we do not understand why commercial activity is maintained while cultural activity is canceled.
Most theatres are offering ticket refunds or exchanges for future dates.
Weather Warning and Public Safety Measures
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has raised its danger level to maximum (6 out of 6) due to forecasts of over 90mm of rain in three hours and up to 200mm in 24 hours. Director Sara Sarroca described the event as a "possible Mediterranean mini-hurricane," technically known as a mesoscale convective system, which could bring tornadoes or waterspouts. Santi Segalà, head of Meteocat’s prediction area, said the system will intensify late on Saturday and peak overnight into Sunday morning, affecting coastal and pre-coastal areas before slowly easing on Sunday evening. Civil Protection has activated the Inuncat flood plan and urged strict caution. An ES-Alert warning message will be sent to mobile phones in coastal and pre-coastal comarcas. The Tenants’ Union has advised people camping in Plaça de Catalunya to return home, stating that "hours of great risk" are approaching. Interior Minister Núria Parlon warned:
Even if the Mediterranean mini-hurricane does not occur, if the phenomenon makes landfall, there will be a lot of impact.
Residents are advised to avoid non-essential travel and remain indoors between 20:00 Saturday and 14:00 Sunday.
Elsewhere in Catalonia on Catalan.News: Free Concert to Celebrate Mediterranean Music in Girona.
Reported by en.ara.cat, elperiodico.com, EL MUNDO Barcelona Barcelona, catalannews.com, Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya. Generalitat de Catalunya, capgros.elnacional.cat, betevé.
