Illa eases travel curbs River risks remain

Oct 4

Salvador Illa says the tropical-type storm is moving north out of Catalonia, but scattered torrential storms remain likely along the northern coast and pre-coastal area, from Barcelona northward, through the afternoon and overnight. He announces that restrictions will be lifted from 14:00 except in Alt and Baix Empordà, where mobility restrictions remain until 21:00 because of river risk. He describes significant Onyar, Daró and Tordera flows corresponding to ten-year return levels and the Ridaura's much greater, hundred-year return level. He explains that river danger follows rainfall and moves downstream; riverside municipalities received phone alerts that morning/around noon telling residents to avoid the channels, and he warns against sightseeing there. Visitors returning to Barcelona should use the AP-7, which he says is fully operational, avoid the C-35 and N-II/Maresme route, and preferably wait until 21:00. He advises residents of the coast and pre-coastal area north of Barcelona to stay home. These are his announcement, risk assessment and advice; the release does not show the later lifting of Empordà restrictions or confirm the forecast storms.

On October 4, Salvador Illa announces that Catalonia's storm restrictions will be lifted from 14:00 except in Alt and Baix Empordà, where mobility restrictions remain until 21:00 because of hydrological risk. He says the storm is moving out to the north but warns of further scattered torrential storms through the afternoon and overnight. Unusually high river flows and delayed downstream danger underpin his caution. He recommends that visitors returning to Barcelona use the operational AP-7, avoid the C-35 and N-II/Maresme route, and preferably wait until 21:00; coastal and pre-coastal residents from Barcelona northward should stay home. His direct statement establishes the announced change and its qualifications, not completion of the remaining curbs. RTVE's later October 4 bulletin reports that the last travel restrictions in northern Girona ended at 21:00 and that all red alerts had been lifted during the afternoon. This is the reported implementation of the announced relaxation; it does not cancel Illa's warnings about continuing storms and river danger.