Spain Today: 12 November 2026

Storm Charles and the aftermath of Wednesday’s general strike shaped the day across Spain, with transport, weather alerts and a housing vote in Congress all in play. Here is what matters if you live here.

City news

Mobile alert for 30 coastal towns in Huelva and Cádiz

The Junta de Andalucía, the regional government whose seat is in Seville, has sent an ES-Alert to phones located in 30 municipalities on the Huelva and Cádiz coast. The orange wind warning remains in force, with gusts of up to 120 km/h and heavy rain expected. If you live or travel along that coast, treat the alert as a prompt to check local conditions before going out.

Source: 20minutos Sevilla

Seville copes with Charles, with no serious incidents

In Seville, storm Charles left a long list of minor problems but nothing serious. The 112 emergency service handled 79 calls, mostly about fallen trees and branches, flooding and landslides. Expect some tidying up and local disruption rather than a major emergency.

Source: Diario de Sevilla

Barcelona commuter trains run late after rain and strike

In Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia, Rodalies commuter trains are running with widespread delays, caused by the heavy rain linked to storm Charles and lingering effects of the general strike. Because trains are missing at the start of lines, the operator has arranged alternative road transport. Plan your journey and check the latest information before leaving.

Source: Betevé

Vallcarca green boulevard still divides Barcelona

In Barcelona, the future of the Vallcarca rambla verda (green boulevard) is still being debated more than two decades after its transformation was first planned. The neighbourhood group Som Barri wants the plan rethought so that buildings are not demolished. The city council says the project is not stalled and aims to deliver the stretch up to carrer d’Agramunt during this term.

Source: Betevé

Madrid’s anti-graffiti police unit has identified 1,466 people

In Madrid, the Policía Municipal’s Sección de Protección del Patrimonio Urbano was created three years ago to cut illegal graffiti. Officers have so far identified 1,466 people, using mapping, social media tracking and formal police reports. The work shows that illegal painting in the city is actively investigated and can lead to sanctions.

Source: 20minutos Madrid

Strikes, protests and transport disruption

Housing strike draws crowds despite the rain

The general strike for decent housing and better wages mobilised hundreds of thousands of people across Spain, even with heavy rain from storm Charles in several areas. The housing issue is now at the centre of national politics, as the items below show.

Source: Europa Press

Madrid kept minimum services, but pickets blocked main roads

In Madrid, Metro ran at 93% of its usual service and the EMT bus network reached 100% of its required minimums. Pickets and road cuts hit the M-30, A-6 and A-42. The city council spoke of “normality”, while the Comunidad de Madrid called the strike a “failure”.

Source: 20minutos Madrid

Andalusian strike marches postponed because of the storm

Storm Charles forced the suspension of general strike demonstrations in Cádiz, Huelva, Seville and Córdoba. Cádiz has moved its march to Sunday 15 November, and Córdoba is considering the same day. If you plan to be in those cities, check the final arrangements locally.

Source: 20minutos Sevilla

Catalonia was without public transport for hours

The nationwide walkout paralysed travel in Catalonia throughout the day. Minimum services only returned for peak hours. This explains the knock-on delays on Rodalies that are still being felt.

Source: The Local Spain

Madrid widens school minimum services for the teachers’ strike

The Comunidad de Madrid’s education department (Consejería de Educación) will change its minimum services order to widen cover in Bachillerato (upper secondary) and the final years of each stage, because of the indefinite teachers’ strike. The aim is to keep lessons going, with particular attention to students who will sit the PAU university entrance exam at the end of this school year. Families in the Madrid region with children in those years should watch for school communications.

Source: 20minutos Madrid

Cost of living

Government says rent extension would help five million people

The Consumo ministry estimates that the rent extension (prórroga del alquiler) would benefit five million people and let a tenant save 4,300 euros. On Thursday, Congress’s Diputación Permanente (the standing committee that acts between plenary sessions) debates the two housing decrees that the full chamber rejected in late September. That rejection led to the early election and to Wednesday’s general strike.

Source: 20minutos

Housing decree expected to pass by a single vote

The Diputación Permanente is expected to validate the housing decree law, which is already in force, and the margin is predicted to be one vote. The measure took up the demands of the Sol protesters, and its earlier rejection triggered the early election. The vote follows a general strike that mobilised millions of workers, according to elDiario.es.

Source: elDiario.es

Feijóo pledges to repeal the housing decrees if he governs

Opposition leader Alberto Feijóo says he would repeal the housing decrees if he governs, calling them “bad for tenants and for owners”. He also promises to raise pensions in line with inflation (IPC), saying “I will not play with pensioners”. The decrees are being voted on in Congress this Thursday.

Source: Europa Press

What it means for foreign residents

• Check Rodalies updates before any trip in Catalonia, as delays and road replacement services are in place (Betevé).
• If you are on the Huelva or Cádiz coast, keep ES-Alert messages switched on while the orange wind warning lasts (20minutos Sevilla).
• Tenants should follow the Congress vote on the housing decrees and the rent extension, as the outcome affects what the government says tenants could save (20minutos, elDiario.es).
• Parents in the Madrid region should check school notices about minimum services during the teachers’ strike (20minutos Madrid).

Spain Today is a curated digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.