Valencia red alert from 6pm: around 30 towns cancel classes

Today's essentials (5 key points)

• Open-Meteo forecasts thunderstorms over Valencia city on Thursday 1 October 2026, with a 100% chance of rain and temperatures between 21 and 27 degrees.
• On the southern coast, Tavernes de la Valldigna faces thunderstorms with hail and a 98% chance of rain, while inland Chelva can expect 17 to 25 degrees.
• Renfe has suspended its Cercanías and Media Distancia train services in Valencia because of the red alert, and Metrovalencia has had to change its service.
• Family companies of Generalitat president Juanfran Pérez Llorca bought four plots in Finestrat totalling 7,161 square metres while he was mayor and urban planning councillor.
• Campanar's fifth Semana Cultural runs until 4 October with a local market, a wine tasting, correfocs and a Nit d'Albaes.

Today's essentials

Valencia red alert from 6pm: around 30 towns cancel classes. AEMET has activated its red warning for extraordinary danger in the provinces of Valencia and Castellón from 6pm on Thursday 1 October 2026, COPE and Infobae report, and around 30 municipalities in the Valencian Community have already suspended classes, according to Infobae.

The forecast figures explain why the warning is at its highest level. Libertad Digital reports that up to 90 litres per square metre could fall in a single hour, and up to 180 litres in 12 hours on the northern coast of Valencia province. Some parts of Castellón could see up to 250 litres per square metre in 12 hours. Press reports citing AEMET say the episode of heavy, persistent rain is expected to last from 1 to 5 October 2026 across several parts of eastern Spain.

At 10:02am the Generalitat Valenciana sent an ES-Alert, the emergency text message that reaches every mobile phone in the area. As reported by Ecos de Valencia and Infobae, it asks people to avoid travel, keep away from barrancos (ravines) and watercourses, and move to upper floors if the water rises. Ecos de Valencia adds that a specific hydrological alert has been activated for the Barranco del Poyo, the same watercourse that overflowed during the deadly DANA of October 2024.

Several towns that were hit in 2024 are preparing on the ground. In Aldaia, the town council has installed flood barriers in the Barranco de la Saleta, with floodgates to channel the water, Libertad Digital and Infobae report. Mayor Guillermo Luján suspended classes from 1pm, with the suspension due to last until midday on Friday 2 October and possibly longer. Torrent stopped classes at 2pm and also called off its street market and outdoor events. Schools are shut in Alaquàs, Catarroja, Picanya and Chiva too, and Alaquàs has carried out an intensive clean of its storm drains and sewers and handed out sandbags. Several of these towns have closed parks, gardens and cemeteries. Ford has suspended production shifts at its Almussafes plant and Consum has closed some supermarkets as a precaution, according to Moncloa.com.

What this means for you: if you live in or near l'Horta Sud (Aldaia, Torrent, Alaquàs, Catarroja, Picanya) or Chiva, plan to have your children at home on Friday morning as well. Avoid driving from 6pm onwards, never cross a flooded underpass or ford, and have a plan to move upstairs if you live on a ground floor close to a ravine. Keep your phone switched on so you receive any further ES-Alert. Aldaia will decide on Friday 2 October at midday whether to extend the suspension, and AEMET may revise the alert level day by day until Monday 5 October, according to press reports.

Weather today

Thunderstorms and certain rain across the province. Open-Meteo forecasts thunderstorms in Valencia city on Thursday 1 October 2026, with a 100% chance of rain, a low of 21 degrees, a high of 27 degrees and winds of up to 18 km/h.

Inland, Chelva can expect 17 to 25 degrees with thunderstorms, a 75% chance of rain and winds of up to 18 km/h. On the southern coast, Tavernes de la Valldigna faces thunderstorms with hail, 22 to 28 degrees and a 98% chance of rain, with lighter winds of up to 12 km/h. It will stay mild, so a waterproof jacket is better than an umbrella, and anything that can wait should be done indoors or postponed.

Transport & traffic

• Renfe halts Cercanías and Media Distancia trains. Renfe has suspended its Cercanías commuter trains and Media Distancia regional services in Valencia because of the red alert, Valencia Plaza reports. If you normally take the train to work from towns around the city, or rely on regional rail to get in and out of Valencia, today's plans need rethinking. Working from home, or putting off the journey until the warning is lifted, are the safest options. Check Renfe's official channels before you leave, because the suspension depends on how the alert develops.
• Metrovalencia has to adjust its service. Valencia Extra says the red alert has forced Metrovalencia to change its service. The outlet does not give a line-by-line breakdown, so if you use the metro or tram, look at FGV's real-time updates before leaving home. Allow extra time, or travel before the 6pm start of the red warning if your journey cannot wait.

Local news to know

• Pérez Llorca says Sánchez is 'adrift'. In remarks reported by Libertad Digital, Generalitat president Juanfran Pérez Llorca accused Pedro Sánchez of being more focused on survival than on governing, and of neglecting housing shortages and water.
• La Mutant opens its new season. Valencia Plaza writes that La Mutant has opened its season by presenting itself as the laboratory for live arts in València.
• Dénia patatas bravas among the 18 best. A restaurant in La Xara, a district of Dénia, has reached the final of the 7th International Patatas Bravas Contest (Palencia Brava / Una de Bravas 2026), which features 18 finalist recipes, according to Valencia Bonita.
• Llorca family firms bought four plots in Finestrat. According to elDiario.es, family companies of Generalitat president Juanfran Pérez Llorca bought four plots in Finestrat, totalling 7,161 square metres in the Molí and Raval areas, while he was mayor and urban planning councillor; the outlet adds that the plots are named in a dossier.

Tonight and tomorrow, Valencia

• Campanar's Semana Cultural runs until 4 October. As Valencia Secreta reports, the fifth Semana Cultural in Campanar continues until 4 October with a local produce market, a wine tasting, correfocs (fire runs) and a big Nit d'Albaes. With the red alert in force, check whether the outdoor events go ahead before you head over.

See the full agenda, tonight and tomorrow