Further heavy storms expected this week, meteorological agency warns

Catalonia’s meteorological agency, Meteocat, has warned of the possibility of “intense rains” this week. 

After a relatively sunny Monday, Tuesday will see light rains, before more uncertain weather begins on Wednesday. 

Coastal areas are expected to be worst affected, particularly in the northern and southern parts of Catalonia. 

Meteocat warns of the possible arrival of a ‘DANA’, an acronym in Spanish that stands for “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” – high-altitude isolated depression. This is the type of heavy storm that caused the devastating flooding in Valencia in recent weeks. 

Initial forecasts warned that the storm would arrive on Wednesday, but more up-to-date predictions have seen the DANA projection pushed back to the coming weekend. 

Catalan president Salvador Illa has assured that his government will take the weather warnings "without fear but with respect." 

"We cannot live in anxiety but we must have respect" for what the weather brings, he added. Illa also added that people must get used to mass warnings of extreme weather, given the ever-worsening situation of the climate crisis.

There are some campsites in the areas expected to be hit by the storm that concern the government, and authorities say they are working on forecasts and plans. 

"If decisions must be made, we will make them. We will act with common sense and we have to learn from what has happened,” Illa said.