October 3, 2026 — Update to our October 2 story. The east-coast storm has become a top-level emergency for Catalonia. Meteocat raised its rainfall danger rating to the maximum 6 out of 6 for Saturday night, and authorities suspended non-essential travel in 20 counties, including Barcelona. Separately, Barcelona’s TMB buses face partial strikes on seven dates this month.
Tonight’s storm
- Red alert: 17 coastal counties in Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona provinces. The Olive Press gives the red-alert window for the Barcelona and Girona coast as 9 pm Saturday, October 3, to noon Sunday, October 4.
- Restrictions: from 8 pm Saturday to 2 pm Sunday in 20 counties, non-essential travel, outdoor sport and cultural events, markets and classes are suspended. Phone alerts (ES-Alert) have been sent.
- Forecast: more than 200 mm of rain possible within six hours, gusts up to 120 km/h around midnight, and possible tornadoes and waterspouts. Meteocat warned of a possible Mediterranean mini-hurricane.
- So far: the C-12 road is closed by flooding. Emergency services logged 320 missions since Thursday. On the Barcelona metro, the Liceu platform on L3 is closed and several station entrances have access problems.
- Barcelona-El Prat airport: no cancellations or closure had been published in the sources we read. Status for tonight is TBA.
- Rail: buses replace Rodalies R2 Sud and R4 trains on the nights of October 3–4. That is for signalling works, not the storm.
- No deaths or injuries had been reported in Catalonia.
Barcelona bus strike dates
| Dates | Stoppage hours | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 14, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 | 09:00–11:00, 19:00–21:00 and 23:00–01:00 | Called. Mediation starts Monday, October 5. Minimum services TBA. |
The dispute is over a 35-hour week. The reports name TMB buses only. One strike-tracking site lists different dates (October 5–9); both press reports we read give the seven dates above.
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What it means for airline travelers
- In Catalonia tonight: stay indoors during the restriction hours and follow ES-Alert messages. Do not drive through flooded roads or underpasses.
- Flying Sunday: check your flight before leaving for El Prat. If Saturday night flights are disrupted, displaced passengers will fill Sunday seats, which is bad news for standby.
- Getting to the airport: allow extra time. Metro stations and roads may still be closed Sunday morning.
- Strike days: avoid relying on city buses during the three stoppage windows. Plan the metro, a taxi or walking instead.
- Insurance: weather cancellations are a common claim. Keep receipts and any airline or rail cancellation notice.
Sources
- AEMET (official) — Weather warnings
- 3CatInfo — El Meteocat avisa d’un ‘possible minihuracà mediterrani’ entre aquesta nit i demà
- The Olive Press — Red ‘danger to life’ alert as Barcelona braces for Mediterranean ‘mini-hurricane’
- El Nacional — Alerta per pluges torrencials a Catalunya, DIRECTE
- Metrópoli Abierta — Temporal de lluvias en Barcelona, en directo
- Metrópoli Abierta — Los autobuses de Barcelona volverán a parar en octubre: fechas y horarios
- Catalunya Press — Nueva ola de paros en los autobuses de TMB
