Catalonia & Valencia Train Disruption: Strong Winds Halt Service Today

Train Services Disrupted in Catalonia and Valencia Amid Storm Alice

Train traffic between Catalonia and the Valencian Community will be suspended between 11:00 and 16:00 hours today, February 19, 2026, due to a weather warning issued by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) for strong wind gusts. The disruption affects rail services throughout the region, with potential for further changes depending on how the storm evolves, according to Adif, the Spanish railway infrastructure administrator.

The AEMET has activated orange alerts – indicating important danger – and yellow alerts – indicating low danger – for winds, coastal phenomena, and snowfall in Catalonia. The Valencian Community remains under the same alert levels, though currently only for wind.

The forecast for February 19th predicts very strong wind gusts across several points in northern, eastern, and southeastern Spain, as well as the Balearic Islands. These gusts could be locally hurricane-force, exceeding 120 km/hour in some areas of the country.

The suspension of train services impacts a key transportation corridor connecting two major regions of Spain. Renfe, the national railway operator, has not yet specified the full extent of the cancellations beyond the initial timeframe, but passengers are advised to monitor updates closely.

This latest disruption comes as Storm Alice batters eastern Spain, bringing heavy rain and fierce winds to southern Catalonia and the Valencian Community. The storm has reignited fears of a repeat of last year’s DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) episodes, which caused widespread flooding and travel chaos.

In the Montsià area of Tarragona, torrential rain has turned main roads into fast-flowing streams, trapping drivers and flooding ground-floor homes. Sections of the AP-7 motorway between Freginals and Ulldecona, as well as the N-340 and C-12 roads, have been closed due to becoming impassable. Train services between Barcelona and Valencia were already suspended prior to the latest announcement, after rail lines through the Ebro Delta were flooded, affecting more than 3,000 passengers.

Emergency services are responding to a high volume of incidents, with rescue teams working to reach people stranded in their homes and vehicles. Around 150 residents in Montsià have been evacuated to temporary shelters, and the Red Cross is assisting hundreds more in neighboring towns. Oriol Corbella, a Catalan Fire Brigade inspector, described the situation as “unprecedented,” citing the overwhelming number of simultaneous alerts across multiple regions.

The Valencian Community is also experiencing significant impacts from the storm, with rivers overflowing and causing localized flooding. The full extent of the damage and disruption in Valencia is still being assessed.

Renfe has stated that passenger safety is its top priority and that operations will resume only when weather conditions permit. The company will contact affected passengers via SMS or email with details regarding ticket changes or cancellations. Passengers are encouraged to check Renfe’s website and social media channels for the latest information.

The current situation highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events and the challenges faced by emergency services in responding to widespread flooding and disruption. The storm serves as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of severe weather patterns impacting Spain and other parts of Europe.