Significant rainfall in Catalonia welcomed due to ongoing drought

Southern half of territory sees heaviest rains with 40mm hitting Torredembarra

Cars drive through the rain in Tarragona
Cars drive through the rain in Tarragona / Gemma Sánchez Bonel
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

January 19, 2024 01:51 PM

January 20, 2024 10:58 AM

Amid a years-long drought, Catalans are happy to see the sight of rain falling on Friday across the territory. 

The southern half of Catalonia saw the heaviest rainfall this Friday morning, with nearly 40mm falling in the seaside town of Torredembarra.

Friday has seen rain practically all across the region, although little fell in the north-east.

The south of the territory is where the heaviest rainfall was seen, as Tarragona saw 37.2mm; Ametlla de Mar 35.5mm; Mont-roig del Camp 31.3mm, and Vinyols and les Arcs 31.2mm. These data counted up until 11:30 pm on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the precipitation led to snow in the Pyrenees.

People walking through Tarragona in the rain
People walking through Tarragona in the rain / Gemma Sánchez Bonel

Climate minister David Mascort celebrates the fact it's raining in much of the country on Friday morning. "It was about time," he exclaimed at the start of a speech at a department event in Mataró.

Mascort, however, warned that a one-off day of rain won't bring Catalonia out of drought. "If it doesn't rain much more in the coming weeks we will have to declare an emergency," he said.