Traffic authorities ask drivers to avoid travel on Sunday afternoon

The Catalan Traffic Service (SCT) is predicting a difficult return to the Barcelona area for many drivers after the long Easter weekend.

Transit authorities say the ongoing storm and heavy rains will make driving difficult, and ask people to avoid travelling on Sunday afternoon is possible.

"We ask that you avoid driving this afternoon due to the unfavorable weather conditions," director of the SCT, Ramon Lamiel, said on radio station RAC1.

"If anyone can bring their return journey forward to the morning, or postpone it until tomorrow, that would be better," Lamiel added.

The additional lanes planned for highways AP-7 and C-32 to facilitate the arrival of drivers to the metropolitan area will not be able to be put in place due to the rain forecast.

"We will not be able to open the additional lanes because this must be done in optimal conditions and not in risky situations. It is done with cones and, in the event of rain and wind, they are not stable and can fall." 

About 590,000 vehicles are expected to return to the Barcelona metropolitan area in the next 48 hours, with the greatest concern on the AP-7, in both the northern and southern sections.