In Castellon, the storm alert remains active. Credit: Consorcio de Bomberos Castellón
The red alert for heavy rain on the Valencia coastline, activated on Sunday, ended at 6am on Monday December 15. Although Spain’s state weather agency Aemet has lowered the warning level, an orange alert (significant danger) remains in the southern interior and coastal areas of Castellon, while a yellow alert continues across the rest of the Valencian Community. So far, the passage of Storm Emilia has not caused any serious incidents.
Yellow alert remains across the region
The rest of the Valencian Community remains under a yellow alert (low danger) for rain, with forecasts predicting up to 20 litres per square metre in one hour or 60 litres per square metre over twelve hours.
Storm warnings in Alicante, Valencia and Castellon
A yellow warning for storms is also in force in Alicante and Valencia until midday, with the possibility of waterspouts forming at sea. In Castellon, the storm alert remains active until 6pm.
High rainfall totals recorded on Sunday
The rainfall episode linked to Storm Emilia left maximum accumulations on Sunday of 149.1 litres per square metre in La Font d’en Carròs (Valencia) and 113 litres at the Borriana yacht club weather station (Castellon), according to data from the Associació Valenciana de Meteorologia (Avamet).
Heavy rain inland despite storms staying offshore
Although the most intense rainfall remained offshore, significant rain still fell across Castellon, with accumulations of between 40 and 90 litres per square metre in many areas. Totals of between 100 and 110 litres were recorded on the beaches of Borriana and Nules, as well as in some towns in La Safor and La Marina Alta, including the 149 litres registered in La Font d’en Carròs.
Other notable rainfall figures
Other significant records from Sunday include 91.8 litres per square metre in Potries (Valencia), 88 in Les Alqueries (Castellon), 86.4 in Beniflà (Valencia), 85.8 in Artana (Castellon), 85.4 in Eslida (Castellon), 84.8 in Oliva (Valencia) and Ondara (Alicante), 82.8 in Betxí (Castellon) and 81.8 in Almassora (Castellon).
Classes suspended in 14 municipalities
A total of 14 municipalities in the provinces of Valencia and Castellon suspended classroom teaching on Monday due to the weather alert, affecting 78,744 pupils, according to figures provided by the regional Ministry of Education at 10pm on Sunday.
School closures in Valencia and Castellon provinces
In the province of Valencia, 13 municipalities ordered school closures, along with several outlying districts of the city of Valencia and other flood-prone areas. These include Albal, Alboraia, Aldaia, Alaquàs, Benetússer, Catarroja, Chiva, Loriguilla, Paiporta, Picassent, Sedaví, Torrent and Xirivella, most of them located in areas previously affected by severe storms. In total, 69,609 pupils have been affected. In Castellon province, 9,135 pupils are affected following the closure of schools in Vila-real.
Partial closures in the city of Valencia
In the city of Valencia, the Municipal Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopal) agreed to suspend educational activity in schools identified in the city council’s Civil Protection protocol for orange rain alerts. These include centres located in flood-prone areas and districts affected by the October 29 storm. Educational activity will continue as normal in the rest of the city.
Gradual return to normality in Torrent
In Torrent, the city council reported that Cecopal agreed late on Sunday afternoon to gradually resume municipal activity from 3pm, once weather warnings are lifted. This includes the reopening of schools, parks and gardens, libraries, senior centres, municipal sports facilities and other public buildings, provided weather conditions allow and official forecasts do not change.
Universities move to online teaching
Face-to-face classes have also been suspended at the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Teaching will be delivered online until at least 3pm and 2pm respectively.