North Coast of Barcelona at Risk as New Storm Approaches
Listen to the story
A new storm called Adam is affecting Catalonia, in northeastern Spain.
Experts warn that the north coast of Barcelona is especially vulnerable to the bad weather.
This means the area could suffer more damage than other places if the storm gets worse.
In Tarragona, authorities have issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms.
A yellow alert is the lowest level of weather warning, but it still asks people to be careful.
Meanwhile, other parts of Catalonia face more serious red alerts.
A red alert is the highest warning level and shows a real danger to people's safety.
Because of the storm, authorities have activated a new round of red alerts and sent ES-Alert messages.
ES-Alert is a system that sends emergency warnings directly to mobile phones.
These messages are used to inform people quickly about serious danger nearby.
The main concern is the risk of torrential rain, which means extremely heavy rainfall in a short time.
This kind of rain can lead to sudden flooding, when water covers roads, fields, or buildings.
Floods can be dangerous because they happen fast and can damage property or put lives at risk.
Authorities are asking residents along the coast to stay alert and follow official safety advice.
People are also advised to avoid unnecessary travel during the worst parts of the storm.
The situation may change in the coming hours as weather forecasters continue monitoring the storm's path.
Vocabulary7 words
- vulnerable
- easy to be hurt or damaged
- yellow alert
- a low-level weather warning
- thunderstorm
- a storm with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain
- red alert
- the highest, most serious weather warning
- ES-Alert
- a phone message system for emergencies
- torrential rain
- extremely heavy rain falling fast
- flooding
- when water covers land that is usually dry
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. It is more vulnerable to the storm 2. To warn people quickly about danger 3. False
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new storm called _____ is affecting Catalonia, in northeastern Spain.
Experts warn that the north coast of Barcelona is especially _____ to the bad weather.
In Tarragona, authorities have issued a _____ alert for rain and thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, other parts of Catalonia face more serious _____ alerts.
A red alert is the highest warning level and shows a real _____ to people's safety.
Authorities have activated a new round of red alerts and sent _____ messages.
ES-Alert is a system that sends emergency warnings directly to _____ phones.
The main concern is the risk of _____ rain, which means extremely heavy rainfall.
This kind of rain can lead to sudden _____, when water covers roads or buildings.
Authorities are asking residents along the coast to stay _____ and follow official advice.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think coastal areas are often more vulnerable to storms?
- How can emergency alert systems like ES-Alert help save lives?
- What should people do when they receive a red weather alert?
- Have you ever experienced a serious storm or flood? What happened?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.