Catalonia Braces for Severe Windstorm, Schools Closed & Travel Discouraged
A region-wide ES-Alert has been issued for Catalonia as authorities prepare for a powerful windstorm expected to impact all areas, with the most intense conditions anticipated between midnight and noon on Thursday.
Catalonia is bracing for a significant weather event, with the Generalitat launching an emergency alert system notification this Wednesday to urge citizens to take extreme precautions. The impending storm has prompted the suspension of all educational activities – including schools, universities, and secondary institutions – alongside the cancellation of outdoor sports and non-urgent health services.
According to a senior official, the decision to activate the ES-Alert system and implement these measures followed an emergency committee meeting that lasted over two hours, assessing the risks associated with wind gusts potentially exceeding 100 km/h. A resolution will be enacted at midnight this Thursday, remaining in effect until 8:00 PM, allowing for the enforcement of these restrictions.
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has characterized the approaching weather pattern as a “top-class window,” with initial gusts already reaching 140 km/h in Vallès Oriental (Barcelona), 115 km/h in Montserrat (Barcelona), and 107 km/h in Miami Platja (Tarragona) early Wednesday. Meteocat head of prediction, Santi Segalà, explained that this is the first phase of a two-part episode. The first, and most severe, will bring west winds across all of Catalonia on Thursday, elevating the danger level to 5 and 6 – the maximum expected.
While Friday is expected to offer a brief respite, a second wave of strong winds will arrive on Saturday, impacting the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, Empordà (Girona), Terres de L’Ebre, and Camp de Tarragona with northerly winds. Authorities are currently prioritizing preparations for Thursday’s conditions, with the director of Meteocat, Sarai Sarroca, emphasizing that “the wind will be stronger tomorrow, especially between twelve midnight tonight and twelve noon tomorrow.” Further warnings are anticipated to be reactivated during the early hours of Saturday.
In addition to the high winds, a pre-alert for strong waves has been activated along the coast from Tarragona to the Empordà. Civil Protection officials are also warning of a high risk of avalanches in mountainous regions, urging caution for those planning excursions. Emergency services have already responded to over 600 calls related to approximately 500 incidents, primarily involving fallen trees and facade damage, though thankfully, no injuries have been reported thus far.
The anticipated storm bears similarities to a severe weather event in 2014, which tragically resulted in two fatalities in Terrassa (Barcelona) and one in Vandellòs (Tarragona) due to wind speeds exceeding 150 km/h.
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has urged residents to exercise extreme caution, recommending limiting non-essential travel. However, he confirmed that the city’s metro and bus services will continue to operate normally. Residents are also advised to refrain from discarding garbage or furniture tonight, as collection services will be disrupted. Collboni further stressed the importance of avoiding wooded areas, mountain and coastal neighborhoods, and beaches.
Another meeting of the emergency committee is scheduled for 5:00 PM to assess the evolving weather forecast and consider raising the alert level to an emergency, as well as implementing additional restrictive measures. The situation remains dynamic, and authorities are prioritizing public safety as Catalonia prepares to weather this significant storm.
