Hydrological Alert in Place

The Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA) has issued a hydrological warning for the Alt Penedès comarca following intense rainfall that could cause sudden increases in river and stream levels. Residents are urged not to approach riverbanks, fords or low-lying areas, and under no circumstances should they attempt to cross flooded zones. This warning is part of ongoing monitoring by Protecció Civil de la Generalitat, which remains in an alert phase for the Pla especial d'emergències per inundacions de Catalunya (INUNCAT), as confirmed in a recent government notice from 20 January 2026 [govern.cat].

Affected Municipalities

The initial alert includes Castellet i la Gornal, Castellví de la Marca, Cubelles, el Montmell, Font-rubí, l’Arboç, les Cabanyes and Olèrdola. Additional municipalities now affected are Pacs del Penedès, Pontons, Santa Margarida i els Monjos, Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Sant Martí Sarroca, Torrelles de Foix, Vilafranca del Penedès and Vilobí del Penedès. The closure of the ford on the Foix river at Castellet i la Gornal has already been implemented by the Rural Agents Corps due to rising waters, according to the Generalitat’s emergency bulletin.

  • Do not approach riverbanks or fords
  • Do not cross flooded streams or roads
  • Follow all instructions from emergency services
  • Stay informed via local authority updates
Residents in affected areas must remain vigilant and avoid any unnecessary travel near watercourses during this period of heightened risk.

Climate Resilience Measures

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events has prompted a reassessment of municipal emergency planning across Catalonia. Five additional municipalities in Alt Penedès are now required to implement Municipal Flood Action Plans (Pla d'Actuació Municipal per inundació), in line with flood risk management frameworks established under Decret 31/2009, which defines the territorial scope of Catalonia’s river basin districts. These plans form part of broader efforts under the ACA’s flood risk management strategy, detailed in its Proposta del Pla de gestió del risc d’inundació, aimed at reducing vulnerability in areas classified as having significant potential flood risk. Recent historical events, such as the June 2000 storm that caused over €65 million in damages and five fatalities across Bages, Anoia, Baix Llobregat and Baix Penedès, underscore the importance of preparedness, as noted in ACA documentation.

Primary sources: govern.cat, Agència Catalana de l'Aigua. Generalitat de Catalunya, Agència Catalana de l'Aigua. Reported by ccapenedes.cat, RTVVilafranca.