Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Baix Empordà, experienced a severe storm this afternoon, with over 90 litres per square metre of rain recorded by early afternoon. Some private rain gauges in the town registered as much as 120 litres, according to local reports.
The local council suspended afternoon classes at municipal schools, even after the most intense rainfall had subsided. Firefighters responded to around 60 calls between 1pm and 4pm in the area, with 34 incidents in Sant Feliu de Guíxols and 10 in Caldes de Malavella, Selva.
One notable incident in Sant Feliu involved the rescue of vehicle occupants trapped by a flooded stream on Carrer de Cristòfor Colom. The rescue was completed without issue, and those affected were unharmed. Several car parks in the town were left with a foot of water.
Flooding and Infrastructure Impact
The topography of Sant Feliu de Guíxols means that rainwater channels down its streets during heavy rainfall, accumulating in the seafront area where the terrain flattens before reaching the sea. This accumulation led to minor flooding in commercial premises and car parks, none of which were significant, according to municipal sources. The ground floor of the town hall also saw a small amount of water accumulate, attributed to a pipe issue.
Minor flooding also affected the municipal sports hall and swimming pool, though these incidents were not considered remarkable. In some areas along the promenade, parked cars had their wheels submerged by the accumulated water.
Regional Rainfall and Alerts
Beyond the 90.9 litres recorded in Sant Feliu, other significant rainfall figures across Catalonia on Monday included 62.4 litres in Llagostera, Gironès, and 50.4 litres in Sant Pere de Riudebitlles, Alt Penedès. Earlier in the day, Civil Protection activated the Inuncat plan alert in anticipation of rain, warning that showers could be accompanied by storms.
The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued a red alert for torrential downpours. The meteorological service also confirmed the presence of static storms with the potential for very intense rainfall along the southern Girona coast, predicting over 90 litres in one hour. The red alert remained in effect until 6pm.
