Ex-hurricane Gabrielle triggers severe flooding in Valencia, Castellón, Tarragona and Ibiza, Spain

Remnants of Hurricane Gabrielle brought heavy rainfall, and widespread flooding in eastern Spain on September 29 and 30, prompting red alerts, school closures affecting more than half a million students, major transport disruption, and multiple emergency rescues.

The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) issued an aviso especial warning of “very heavy and persistent” precipitation as the extratropical remnants of Gabrielle advected subtropical air into the western Mediterranean.

Red alerts were activated in Valencia, Castellón, southern Tarragona and Ibiza (Balearic Islands), with forecast thresholds above 180 mm (7.1 inches) in 12 hours for some sectors.

In Amposta (Tarragona), the Meteocat automatic station registered 246 mm (9.7 inches) in 24 hours by 08:00 LT on 30 September.

Mas de Barberans, also in Tarragona, logged 168.6 mm (6.6 inches) in the same period, while Els Alfacs recorded 155.9 mm (6.1 inches). In Castellón province, 173.8 mm (6.8 inches) of rain was recorded in 24 hours at Eslida.

In Aldaia, Valencia province, 57 mm (2.2 inches) fell in just 35 minutes during the night of September 29–30 , causing the La Saleta ravine to overflow. Preliminary AEMET reports indicated daily totals above 200 mm (7.9 inches) in Barx, La Safor.

The most intense rainfall and flooding occurred in the Valencian Community, Castellón, southern Tarragona and parts of Aragón.

The Generalitat Valenciana activated its emergency coordination centres (CECOPAL) and issued Es-Alert mobile warnings to residents in high-risk municipalities.

Fire brigades performed rescues of people trapped in vehicles and homes. Multiple secondary roads including CV-472, CV-395, CV-429, CV-571 and CV-505 were closed. Commuter and regional rail services including Cercanías and Rodalies reported delays or suspensions due to track inundation.

The regional education ministry confirmed that more than 536 000 students across the Comunitat Valenciana were affected by school suspensions.

Multiple municipalities closed markets, parks and other public facilities. In Tarragona province, hundreds of customer lost power during the peak rainfall, with crews deployed once conditions permitted inspection.

As of 12:00 LT on 30 September, no fatalities were confirmed in connection with the event. Authorities continue to monitor rivers and ravines for secondary rises.

In the Balearic Islands, Ibiza experienced severe flooding as torrential rainfall inundated streets, cut roads, and triggered landslides. Emergency services carried out around 50 rescues of people trapped in vehicles and homes.

The Balearic Government suspended classes, closed public facilities, and requested support from the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) to assist local response teams. Authorities reported widespread disruption across the island, with multiple neighborhoods and transport routes impassable during the peak of the rainfall.

Rishav Kothari

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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