UPDATE 8.30 am, 5 October

Barcelona’s Civil Protection maintains the Basic Municipal Action Plan in place until all services in the city are completely back to normal, reiterating the message of caution before the effects of the storm.

The Barcelona Urgent Care and Social Emergencies Centre had provided assistance for a total of 189 people as of 11 pm on Sunday, putting 82 of them up at various municipal facilities (Dos de Maig and the CAE).

The Barcelona Fire Service has handled 1,340 requests since the rain started, carrying out 240 callouts.

The City Police evacuated 160 people from the parc de la Ciutadella on Sunday as it was closed for safety reasons. The city’s parks and gardens will remain closed early in the morning to check what state they are in and guarantee safety,

Public transport has gradually been returning to normal and is now operational.

Publicly operated schools in the city can continue with classes as normal.

Priority is being given to work in the mountain neighbourhoods, where there have been some small landslides and some flooding that has affected roads and housing.

Work is also being carried out today to repair possible damages at some facilities such as the Joan Fuster (Gràcia) and El Carmel libraries.

The Poble-sec Social Services Centre will not be able to open but will be providing service to users online or referring them to other centres. The prevision is that it will resume its face-to-face activity on Tuesday.

UPDATE - 1:15 pm, 4 October

The Municipal Emergency Action Plan for Flood Risk has been downgraded to alert level. The Basic Municipal Action Plan remains in place to oversee the full restoration of city services.

The Barcelona Fire Service is monitoring water levels in the Besòs River and their impact on the Ronda del Litoral, where sections between exits 29 and 26 were closed at various points during the morning. Traffic is now flowing normally towards the Besòs, while one lane has reopened in the Llobregat direction.

Metro and city bus services resumed early this morning as planned, despite some disruption at stations. Passengers are reminded to check the official TMB, FGC, Rodalies and Tram channels for the latest updates.

Barcelona’s Social Emergency and Urgent Care Centre (CUESB) has assisted a total of 129 people, some of whom were able to spend the night at one of several municipal facilities. The Barcelona Fire Service responded to 145 incidents and received 910 calls related to the severe weather.

Tibidabo Amusement Park, Barcelona Zoo and Park Güell remained closed until midday. All municipal museums also remain closed to the public until 2 pm, along with other sports and cultural facilities. The city’s parks will remain closed throughout Sunday for essential maintenance and clean-up work to guarantee public safety.

Throughout today, more than 330 schools across the city will be inspected to ensure that classes can resume tomorrow.

UPDATE - 10:45 am, 4 October

Saturday 3 October was the wettest day in Barcelona since records began, with maximum rainfall of 206 litres per square metre. Average accumulated rainfall across the city was 152.3 litres per square metre. The city’s stormwater tanks reached 100% capacity.

Overnight, the Barcelona Fire Service responded to 145 incidents and received 910 calls related to the severe weather. CUESB provided assistance to 92 people accommodated at various facilities.

Restrictions on travel across the city have now been lifted, although people should continue to exercise caution in areas near the Besòs due to the risk of the river overflowing. In neighbourhoods close to the river, residents are advised to move to the upper floors of buildings if floodwater reaches the area, avoid basements and low-lying areas, stay away from the river and call 112 in case of emergency. The river is expected to gradually return to its normal flow.

Metro services have been running since 5 am, although there is some disruption on lines 1, 3 and 9, with precautionary measures in place on L4. All other services are expected to be fully back to normal from 2 pm. Passengers are advised to check the official TMB, FGC, Rodalies and Tram channels for the latest updates.

Following several precautionary closures, both the Ronda de Dalt and Ronda del Litoral are now open. Bicing services will gradually return to normal.

Public parks will remain closed throughout Sunday to allow the necessary maintenance and clean-up work to be carried out and ensure they are safe for the public.

UPDATE - 7:45 pm, 3 October

In anticipation of the heavy rain, all public parks, interior block courtyards, libraries and municipal markets have been closed, along with Tibidabo Amusement Park, Barcelona Zoo and Park Güell. For the safety of municipal workers, all city cleaning crews have been instructed to return to their depots.

All outdoor activities scheduled to take place in the city have also been cancelled, along with outdoor events forming part of neighbourhood festivals currently under way. Major cancellations include the celebration of Tibidabo Amusement Park’s 125th anniversary, which was due to take place tomorrow, and the two concerts scheduled for this evening at the Olympic Ring. The Sant Antoni Sunday Market has also been cancelled.

Mobility

People are advised to avoid all non-essential travel. Bus and metro services will be suspended from midnight until 5 am tomorrow, 4 October. Several entrances to Rocafort, Bruc, Almogàvers and Catalunya stations will also be closed. Bicing services will be suspended from 8 pm.

Events, activities and facilities affected by the severe weather

Culture and facilities

• Barcelona Libraries: closing at 7 pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
• Civic centres: activities scheduled for Sunday morning are cancelled.
• Local community facilities: closing early at 7 pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
• Municipal markets: closed on Sunday.
• Tibidabo Amusement Park, Barcelona Zoo and Park Güell: closed.
• Olympic Ring: both concerts scheduled for Saturday evening are cancelled.
• Mercat de les Flors: the performance of Cèl·lula #7: À Gogo is cancelled.
• L’Auditori: Saturday’s OBC concert and Sunday morning’s concert are cancelled.
• Museu de Ciències Naturals: the Botanical Gardens are closed.
• Barcelona City Hall: guided tours are cancelled
• Viu Montjuïc: activities are cancelled.
• Teatre Lliure:
• Performances of L’òpera de tres rals and the second performance of La bella Helena at the Gràcia venue are cancelled.
• The Lliure’s 50th anniversary celebration in Plaça de Margarida Xirgu is cancelled.
• Sunday’s Reviure el Lliure guided tours are cancelled, affecting 30 groups.
• CCCB: closing early at 7 pm on Saturday and closed until 2 pm on Sunday.
• Gran Teatre del Liceu: the performance of Aida scheduled for 6 pm on Saturday is cancelled.
• ICUB museums and cultural venues: the following will be closed on Sunday until 2 pm:
• Museu d’Història de Barcelona (MUHBA)
• Museu Frederic Marès
• Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món (MuEC)
• Museu del Disseny
• Montjuïc Castle
• Pedralbes Monastery
• La Virreina Centre de la Imatge
• La Capella
• La Fabra

Activities in public spaces

• All activities in public spaces organised by the city districts are cancelled, including neighbourhood festivals and other scheduled events.
• Sunday’s celebration of Tibidabo Amusement Park’s 125th anniversary is cancelled.
• Sunday’s Sant Antoni Sunday Market is cancelled.
• The Nit de Tapes at Mercat del Ninot, scheduled for Saturday, is cancelled.

Sporting activities

The following scheduled outdoor sporting activities are cancelled:

• Special Olympics Torch event (Saturday).
• Barnatresc walk (Sunday morning).
• CET10 Aquathlon (Sunday morning).
• CSIO Barcelona: activities are suspended from 8 pm on Saturday. Sunday morning’s session has been moved to the afternoon.

For information about cancellations at other concert venues and theatres across the city, please check the venues’ own communication channels.

Social emergencies

The Social Emergency and Urgent Care Centre (CUESB) has been activated. A municipal facility on Dos de Maig has also been opened to provide emergency accommodation for people experiencing homelessness. The emergency response services at the Emergency Shelter Centre (CAE) and Short-Stay Centre (CEB) also remain operational.

Follow these recommendations during periods of heavy rain:

At home

• Close doors and windows and check roofs, lightning conductors, drains and downpipes, clearing away any accumulated debris.
• Unplug electrical appliances and bring in any outdoor furniture or other objects that could be swept away by the water.
• Do not leave objects or furniture outside that could be swept away by the water.
• Bring pets indoors.
• Keep toxic products where they cannot come into contact with floodwater.
• Keep essential items close at hand, including a mobile phone and charger, essential medication, warm clothing and personal documents.
• Do not enter areas of your home that could flood, such as basements or garages.
• If your home floods, switch off the electricity at the mains.
• If the building you are in is unsafe, leave, close the door behind you and move to higher ground nearby.

Outdoors

• Take shelter in a safe building and make sure the doors and windows are securely closed.
• Whether on foot or by car, do not attempt to cross streams, watercourses, underpasses or other areas at risk of flooding, as these are where most fatalities occur. Wait until it is safe or find an alternative route.

You can find all the safety advice on the Barcelona Fire Service website.