Catalonia records two wettest weeks since January 2020

Following continuous heavy rainfall across Catalonia from October 25 to November 8, the meteorological agency reports that the region has experienced its two wettest weeks since January 2020, during Storm Glòria.

Recent rains brought at least 50 mm (or 50 liters per square meter) across Catalonia, with most counties registering over 100 mm, and southern areas even exceeding 200 mm. In Ports Natural Park in Terres de l’Ebre, experts recorded 447.8 mm. Even on Friday around 100 mm of rainfall in Cadaqués swept cars away on banks of stream. 

Data was gathered from 294 rain gauges spread throughout Catalonia, with the Val d’Aran, one of the driest regions in recent weeks, recording around 30 mm. In Sitges, authorities recorded 251.4 liters per square meter between October 25 and November 8, while Tarragona received a total of 203.9 mm.

Although the meteorological agency noted these are not "exceptional figures," Catalonia’s prolonged drought in recent years makes this rainfall significant. The last time Catalonia received similar levels of precipitation was during Storm Glòria in January 2020, which caused the worst flooding damage in two decades.

In counties such as Terres de l'Ebre, Priorat, Garraf, and Baix Llobregat, experts reported that the rainfall over these two weeks exceeded the total of the previous six months combined.

DANA in Valencia

Catalonia was affected by a DANA (an isolated high-altitude depression), a powerful storm formed by the collision of warm and cold air masses. The same storm severely impacted Valencia, resulting in over 200 fatalities, with dozens still missing.

Public outcry has led to calls for the resignation of the Valencian president over alleged mismanagement of the crisis.

In Torís, a municipality in Valencia, rain gauges recorded a striking 771.8 mm on October 29, with 184.6 mm falling within a single hour and 42.0 mm in just ten minutes.

To put it in perspective, Barcelona registered only 41.9 mm of rain in May 2023, whereas Torís averages around 475 liters per square meter throughout an entire year.